Abstract
Plant diseases resulting from pathogens and pests constitute a persistent threat to global food security. Pathogenic infections of plants are influenced by environmental factors; a concept encapsulated in the "disease triangle" model. It is important to elucidate the complex molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions among plants, their pathogens and various environmental factors in the disease triangle. This review aims to highlight recent advancements in the application of systems biology to enhance understanding of the plant disease triangle within the context of microbiome rising to become the 4th dimension. Recent progress in microbiome research utilizing model plant species has begun to illuminate the roles of specific microorganisms and the mechanisms of plant-microbial interactions. We will examine (1) microbiome-mediated functions related to plant growth and protection, (2) advancements in systems biology, (3) current -omics methodologies and new approaches, and (4) challenges and future perspectives regarding the exploitation of plant defense mechanisms via microbiomes. It is posited that systems biology approaches such as single-cell RNA sequencing and mass spectrometry-based multi-omics can decode plant defense mechanisms. Progress in this significant area of plant biology has the potential to inform rational crop engineering and breeding strategies aimed at enhancing disease resistance without compromising other pathways that affect crop yield.