Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) symbioses were critical to plant migration to land and conserved pathways associated with this symbiosis have been identified. It is proposed that association of plant root systems with beneficial fungi, like AMF, can improve crop resilience to water deficit. In this project, two crops that are phylogenetically distinct and critical to US agriculture, tomato and rice, will be compared to identify cell-specific responses to AMF colonization, water deficit and their interaction, and the conserved networks that promote plant growth at cellular resolution. This is a collaborative project with the groups of J. Bailey-Serres, N. Sinha, U. Paszkowski, and R. Deal.
Leadership:
S. Brady, J. Bailey-Serres, N. Sinha, U. Paszkowski, and R. Deal.
Labmembers:
Alex Canto-Pastor