Manipulaing the Rhizosphere Microbiome for Enhanced Crop Yield and Agricultural Sustainability.

In natural ecosystems, microbes are the key regulators of plant nutrient availability, pathogen resistance, and can affect plant drought tolerance. Collectively, the community of beneficial microbes is known as the microbiome, and a healthy soil microbiome is critical to plant productivity. In most conventional agricultural systems, fertilizer and chemical inputs have largely replaced these natural functions, and have disrupted these microbiomes in the process.

In the past, microbial inoculants have been developed and marketed to enhance nutrient availability, increase pathogen resistance, and for other benefits.  But, the limited efficacy of many products has created resistance to the incorporation of microbial manipulation and management in conventional agriculture.  Molecular techniques have greatly advanced our understanding of soil microbes in recent decades, and new approaches to microbial management are emerging.  I will highlight some of these recent findings and suggest new targets for microbial manipulation.  Drawing on previous successes and failures, I will identify the best opportunities to incorporate practices that favor a healthy, plant-beneficial soil microbiome.