Revisiting the cry-for-help hypothesis in plant–microbe interactions

Tharp et al., 2025

The ‘cry-for-help hypothesis’ (CHH) is broadly used to study how root exudate modulation under stress influences recruitment of beneficial microbes in the rhizosphere. Here, we explored common misconceptions and limitations of the CHH and advocate for the reassessment of this prevalent hypothesis to unfold the ecological complexities of plant–microbe interactions.

https://www.cell.com/trends/plant-science/abstract/S1360-1385(25)00223-7