Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** leaf microbiomes are affected by…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** leaf microbiomes are affected by the plants they inhabit and the environment, and even small changes in the microbiome composition can impact plant fitness. However, little is known about how plants control their microbiome during disease or defense responses, or how the assembled microbiome influences plant health. This knowledge is paramount for promoting crop resilience in the face of increasing environmental stresses. Our long-term goal is to understand how the plant immune system regulates assembly of the leaf microbiome, and how that microbiome, in turn, modulates the host immune system to resist pathogens. In this proposal, we use the rice/bacterial blight (BB) system as a model to address how plants shape their microbiomes during biotic stresses. Our aims are to (1) identify rice genes that influence leaf microbiome assemblage during susceptible and resistant interactions; (2) validate the function of candidate genes orchestrating the assembly of the rice microbiome, and (3) identify plant and microbial markers for enhanced plant resistance. Overall, the proposed research will provide in-depth understanding of how plants undergoing biotic stresses guide leaf microbiome assembly and how the leaf microbiome can help plants defend themselves from disease stresses. Ultimately, our study will pave the way for improved rice breeding to ensure a healthy microbiome that will maximize rice yield and minimize losses due to diseases, ensuring food security for millions globally.