SCELSE-Graduates & Postdocs Seminar Series: Host microbiome interactions focusing on the kingdom Plantae

TITLE: Plant-microbiome partnership for ameliorating sulfur stress in plants
SPEAKER: Arijit Mukherjee | PhD student | Environmental Engineering cluster, SCELSE

Abstract:
Stricter emission regulations have resulted in reduced atmospheric sulfur deposition, leading to widespread sulfur deficiency in agricultural soils.
The plant associated microbiome could potentially be used as a sustainable solution to tackle this challenge. However, our knowledge for plant-microbe crosstalk in plant sulfur nutrition remains fragmentary. In this talk I will illuminate upon the reciprocal relationship between plant sulfur nutrition and the rhizosphere microbiome, and how microbial interactions within microbial communities can impact their ability to improve sulfur stress tolerance.

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TITLE: Volatile methyl jasmonate from roots signals the formation of host-beneficial biofilms by the soil microbiome
SPEAKER: Dr Mrinmoy Mazumder | Research Fellow | Environmental Engineering cluster, SCELSE

Abstract:
The rhizosphere, a region surrounding plant roots, hosts diverse exudates and micro-orgamisms shaping plant processes. Microbial communities in this niche prefer biofilm life but the impact of root mediated volatile organic compounds (rVOCs) is unclear. Using a novel custom designed system named as “push-pull system,” we explored IVOCs’ effect on soil biofilms. Experiments revealed rVOCs promote soil biofilm formation. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) emerged as a major bioactive VOC to induce biofilms. About 10% of biofilm taxa responded to MeJA exposure, fostering biofilm induction which in turn enhance plant growth. We’re delving into cross-kingdom VOC-mediated signaling mechanisms for biofilm generation, indicating a co-evolutionary process exploiting plant defense hormones to foster soil biofilms, potentially extending the rhizosphere boundary and linking plant biomass with soil biofilm microbiota.