Phytobiomes Alliance: Dissecting microbiome-dependent crop traits: From reductionist models to field-scale complexity

Date & Time

Oct 8, 2025 04:00 PM in London (11am EST)

Description

Understanding how microbiomes influence plant health and productivity is crucial for developing sustainable agricultural management strategies. However, the complexity and context-dependency of microbial effects on plant traits present significant challenges for researchers and product developers. This webinar highlights two contrasting yet complementary approaches to microbiome research: reductionist studies using synthetic microbial communities and field-based investigations in complex agricultural systems.

The first talk examines how simplified systems can reveal fundamental mechanisms of microbe-host interactions. Using metaproteomics, Manuel Kleiner’s lab studies the metabolic and physiological adaptations of seven maize root-associated bacterial species grown in vitro and in planta, uncovering both conserved and species-specific functions that drive microbial niche specialization in the root environment.

The second talk, presented by Onyemaechi Henry Obiazikwor, shifts to the complexities of real-world field conditions, showcasing how commercially available biological products, including live microbes, organic acids, and fish-seaweed fertilizer, influence tomato crop yield and soil microbiomes. These field trials highlight the challenges of translating lab-based research into agricultural practice and the importance of understanding seasonal and farm environmental variability.

Together, these talks provide a unique perspective on how different experimental scales and approaches can be leveraged to understand and utilize the plant microbiome for enhancing crop production.