Sym-biom Research Group

The “Analysis of the interplay between the root system and microbiome of Legume plants: a perspective for an innovative agriculture” Research Group aims to advance knowledge in the field of plant-microbe interactions by outstanding fundamental research, extending across different scientific disciplines like horticulture and plant production.

Crop yield and quality are heavily influenced by adverse environmental conditions and cultivation management and the adverse conditions can greatly modify the root architecture. In addition to providing support for the plants, the roots also function of roots in the absorption of water and nutrients form the soil. The interaction with beneficial symbiotic microorganisms including arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and other beneficial microbes can improve the nutritional status of the plants and contribute to better cope with unfavourable conditions. The proposal targets to explore the interplay between the root structure and AM symbiotic interaction and the root microbiome. We would use root developmental mutants of a model legume plant to analyse their microbial associations. The project would give better insights into the process of how the root microbiome is shaped by the root system architecture and enable us to improve the tolerance of plants to adverse environmental factors.

The project will enable us to emerge important generalizations across in agricultural and natural ecosystems to support adaptation to climate change, ensuring innovative solutions for the education of the future agricultural generation.

The completion of the project would give better insights into the interplay between root architecture and the shaping of root microbiome. The results could offer new ways to preserve microbe diversity, increased water retention capacity of soil and the reduced use of artificial fertilizers with the more widespread application of cover plants in agriculture.