Abstract:
Plant root-associated microbial communities (the “rhizosphere microbiome”) influence plant growth and defense. Closely-related bacteria can have dramatically different effects on plant health and range from pathogenic to mutualistic. Using Pseudomonas spp. and Arabidopsis as a tractable rhizosphere microbiome model, we have uncovered plant and bacterial genes and mechanisms that determine functional outcomes of host-microbiome interactions. This talk will cover our latest findings on how plant genetics shapes the rhizosphere microbiome, and how bacteria colonize their hosts to promote health or disease. Collectively, the goal of our work is to reveal the genetic and molecular basis of plant microbiome structure and function.