Breeding soil microbiome to promote plant growth

To increase the sustainability of agriculture, we need the help of soil microbiota, especially the microbes that promote the plant growth. Current techniques for detection of growth promotion microbes focused mainly on unique, isolated microbes. This approach is not only laborious but very limited where microbes are found mainly by trial-and-error. In the current project, we extend the techniques used for characterizing capacity of promoting plant growth to the community level. In addition, we also combine techniques of microbial breeding to add a selection pressure in the soil microbiome to increase its growth promotion capacity. This approach offers a complete change in perspective by taking advantage of the whole soil community. In this project, you will contribute to develop techniques to estimate the plant growth promotion potential for an entire microbial community and apply eco-evolution concepts to the breeding of microbial communities in order to increase their capacity to promote plant growth.

Used skills

This project offers the opportunity to gain experience in a range of laboratory skills (e.g. bacterial culturing, in vitro plant growth, DNA extraction and metagenomics), community ecology, eco-evolution, and statistical analysis. Additionally, the student will develop their research skills and there is the opportunity to come up with research questions (within the scope of the project).

Location

Wageningen

Requirements

Enthusiasm, willingness to learn, and general lab skills preferred.

Duration

6-9 months

Contact

Marcio Leite (Junior Scientist), e-mail: m.leite@nioo.knaw.nl

Eiko Kuramae (Professor and Senior Scientist), e-mail: e.kuramae@nioo.knaw.nl