SRP471165 PRJNA1037705 Metatranscriptome of the rhizosphere of Hordeum vulgare under drought stress Drought stress is a major abiotic factor that negatively affects agricultural productivity, especially in regions with unpredictable rainfall. Given their sessile nature, plants have evolved complex adaptive strategies to mitigate and respond to environmental challenges. A central facet of this adaptive mechanism is the rhizosphere, the soil zone directly influenced by root exudates, which in turn shapes the associated microbial communities. Drought strongly affects the physical features of the soil, which in turn disturbs the microbial biomass. However, some microbes have evolved strategies to cope with the water stress. Mechanisms, such as sporulation, osmolyte production, and biofilm formation, are observed when stress occurs. Thus, the study aimed to analyze a correlation between the drought response mechanisms of microbes and the adaptation of plants to drought.