Integrated soil–microbe–plant regulation for maize disease control in the black soil of Northeast China

Abstract

The black soil region of Northeast China is a critical area for maize production in China. However, the long‐term continuous cropping, coupled with residue‐driven pathogen carryover, soil organic matter depletion, nutrient imbalance, and climate variability, has increased maize vulnerability to diseases. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the integrated regulation of soil, microbiomes, and plant immunity for maize disease management in this region. It assesses the physicochemical properties of the soil, the microbiota, and plant immune responses. Particular attention is paid to current biological control approaches. These plant immunity‐ and microbiome‐based strategies include beneficial microbe‐mediated immune priming, activation of induced systemic resistance, modulation of plant hormone signaling networks, RNA interference (RNAi)‐based immune regulation, and microbiome‐assisted enhancement of disease resistance. The underlying mechanisms include recruitment of beneficial microorganisms, suppression of pathogen growth and virulence, stabilization of protective microbial networks, activation of plant immune signaling, and enhancement of stress resilience. This review also compares these strategies in terms of disease‐control efficacy, yield benefits, stability, cost, biosafety, and commercialization potential, and proposes a region‐specific pathway for their integrated deployment. Establishment of a coordinated regulatory framework that combines soil‐health improvement, microbiome intervention, pathogen monitoring, and plant immune enhancement will support the transition from chemical‐dependent disease control to proactive and sustainable maize production systems in the black soil region of Northeast China.