Influence of sound vibrations on plant holobionts: physiological pathways linking root function and rhizospheric microbial interactions

Climate change increasingly threatens plant productivity and ecosystem stability, highlighting the need for sustainable strategies that enhance plant resilience. The plant holobiont—comprising the plant and its associated rhizospheric microbiota—has emerged as a key functional unit governing plant performance under environmental stress. Among emerging non-invasive approaches, sound and vibration stimuli have been reported to influence plant growth, stress responses, and microbial activity; however, the physiological mechanisms underlying these effects remain poorly defined. This review synthesizes current evidence on sound-induced plant and microbial responses within a holobiont framework and advances a physiology-driven conceptual model linking acoustic stimuli to root function and rhizospheric processes. We propose that sound vibrations act primarily as mechanical cues perceived by plant tissues through mechanotransduction pathways, triggering calcium and hormonal signaling that modulate root architecture, metabolism, and exudation patterns. These root-level physiological changes are hypothesized to indirectly shape rhizospheric microbial community assembly and function, thereby influencing nutrient acquisition, stress tolerance, and agronomic performance. By explicitly connecting sound perception, root functional traits, and plant-mediated microbial responses, this review moves beyond a descriptive synthesis and provides a mechanistic framework to guide future experimental research. Understanding these pathways may support the development of sound-based strategies as low-impact tools for improving plant–soil–microbe interactions in sustainable agriculture.