Imaging the soil microbiome impact on drought stress-adaptive responses of cowpea roots

We recently discovered that soil microbes control key aspects of the drought stress-adaptive response of cowpeas. The implication of this finding is that new microbe-based agritech innovations can be developed for application to soil as a strategy to combat drought. The mechanisms by which soil microbiomes confer robust drought resistance to cowpeas is still unknown. Preliminary data suggests that microbes primarily change the root 3D structure within the soil. Here we propose to combine two imaging techniques (using x-rays and neutrons) to visualize details of soil-root interactions governed by soil microbes. Combined with plant gene expression analysis, the imaging results will provide new insights into the mechanisms used in nature to withstand severe droughts. The results can be exploited to cushion agriculture against climate change, helping to stabilize the global food security.

本团队近期发现，土壤微生物（soil microbes）可调控豇豆（cowpeas）干旱胁迫适应性响应的关键环节。该发现的启示在于，可开发基于微生物的农业科技（agritech）创新方案并施用于土壤，以此作为应对干旱的有效策略。目前，土壤微生物组（soil microbiomes）赋予豇豆强抗旱性的具体机制仍未明晰。初步研究数据显示，微生物主要会改变土壤内部根系的三维结构。为此，本研究拟结合两种成像技术（分别利用X射线与中子），可视化呈现受土壤微生物调控的土壤-根系互作细节。结合植物基因表达分析，上述成像结果将为揭示自然界中植物耐受极端干旱的内在机制提供全新视角。该研究成果可用于助力农业抵御气候变化，助力稳定全球粮食安全。