ATTACC: Identifying Plant Compounds and Processes that Attract and Accommodate Beneficial Microbes

Plants rely on microbes living on their roots to help them grow and stay healthy. However, we dont understand much about the compounds plants secrete to invite and house these beneficial microbes. This project aims to study a family of transcription factors called MYBs in Arabidopsis plants and how they impact communication between plants and beneficial microbes. Well use advanced technology including automation to test the cooperation between microbes and genetically modified plants to figure out which compounds and pathways are responsible for this communication. This knowledge will help to maximize the potential of the plant microbiome in sustainable agriculture.