Identifying Beneficial Microbial Partnerships in Citrus and Pistachio Rhizospheres
Profile
Identifying Beneficial Microbial Partnerships in Citrus and Pistachio Rhizospheres
PI: Dianne K. Newman
Research Team: Kurt M. Dahlstrom, PhD and Elena K. Perry
Division of Biology and Biological Engineering
Ecology and Biosphere Engineering Initiative
2020 Explorer grant
This project aims to identify crop-specific beneficial microbial partnerships as a first step towards identifying microorganisms that could be engineered as rhizosphere additives. Microbial communities found in the domain of the soil in the vicinity of plant roots (i.e., the "rhizosphere") significantly impact the ability of plants to grow and evade pathogens, yet they are susceptible to climate-related stressors. We aim to translate a recent discovery made from studies of a Caltech citrus rhizosphere (i.e., that certain bacteria can protect fungi from biotoxins known to accumulate in warmer, drier soils) to the rhizosphere of citrus and pistachios.