P2IRC 1.3 Soil microbiome as plant phenotype

The study goal is to support crop breeders in identifying microbial communities and characteristics that improve crop yield. The microbial community associated with the roots of canola grown over a three-year period in a Saskatchewan field will be analyzed. DNA extraction and analysis results from the roots and soils will identify specific microbes or communities of microbes connected with the high yielding varieties. In combination with other phenotypic data, unique identifiers of the microbial community will be determined and then tested under controlled experimental conditions to validate their link in improved crop performance.