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Abstract
Plant health in natural environments depends on interactions with complex and dynamic
communities comprising macro- and microorganisms. While many studies have provided
insights into the composition of rhizosphere microbiomes (rhizobiomes), little is
known about whether plants shape their rhizobiomes. Here, we discuss physiological
factors of plants that may govern plant-microbe interactions, focusing on root physiology
and the role of root exudates. Given that only a few plant transport proteins are
known to be involved in root metabolite export, we suggest novel families putatively
involved in this process. Finally, building off of the features discussed in this
review, and in analogy to well-known symbioses, we elaborate on a possible sequence
of events governing rhizobiome assembly.