Location: Plant Science Research
Project Number: 5062-12210-004-061-R
Project Type: Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 1, 2023
End Date: Jul 31, 2026
Objective:
Objective 1: To identify metagenome features associated with crop production under dryland conditions.
Objective 2: To characterize how root exudates mediate rhizosphere plant-microbe interactions under water stress.
Objective 3: To characterize the capacity of the dryland microbiome to control soilborne diseases and alleviate plant water stress.
Approach:
Objective 1. We plan to compare rhizosphere metagenomes from neighboring irrigated and dryland fields to characterize water stress and host effects on the rhizobiome gene content. Specifically, we will focus on dryland/irrigated wheat plots at Lind, WA and dryland/irrigated alfalfa plots at Ritzville, WA.
Objective 2. We will compare root exudates of well-watered and water-stressed plants and correlate changes in the exudation patterns with shifts in the rhizosphere metagenome and metatranscriptome.
Objective 3. We will perform a greenhouse experiment to expose wheat and alfalfa to two stressors, disease and drought, and assess the capacity of the dryland-adapted rhizobiome to protect crops from water stress and soilborne pathogens.
