Synergistic plant–microbiome rhizosphere recycling: mineral elements as modulators of redox enzymes for sustainable agriculture

Mineral elements regulate plant redox homeostasis through a network linking root exudation, rhizosphere microbiome assembly, nutrient turnover and cell-wall architecture. Essential elements (Zn, Fe, Mn) serve as enzyme cofactors and signals that reshape exudate chemistry and microbial communities; selenium (Se) modulates peroxidase and thioredoxin systems, whereas toxic elements (Al, Cd) disrupt catalytic centers and redox balance. Current literature remains fragmented into single-element, single-pathway case studies. Synthesizing 175 peer-reviewed sources, this review makes three contributions: (1) an integrated framework linking four mineral-responsive routes—root exudation, microbiome assembly, rhizosphere nutrient dynamics and cell-wall biosynthesis—to a shared redox-enzyme output; (2) an explicit evidence-grading scheme (established, emerging, hypothesized) separating demonstrated from correlative mechanisms; and (3) a mineral-by-mineral evaluation of chemical form, bioavailability and cofactor function, with a functional classification of rhizosphere enzymes by biological origin. The strongest links involve minerals acting as catalytic cofactors or cell-wall cross-linkers; most exudate- and microbiome-mediated effects remain correlative and concentration-dependent. CRISPR/Cas9 editing, high-resolution imaging, multi-omics and synthetic communities are identified as decisive tools for converting correlations into causal evidence. A decision framework coupling precision fertilization with microbiome management is proposed to improve nutrient-use efficiency, stress resilience and soil health.