Federal Grant Award Summary

Colorado State University received $849,998 in funding under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Program (CFDA 10.310), administered by the Institute of Bioenergy, Climate, and Environment, with an award date of February 1, 2026, and a completion date of January 31, 2029. The research project investigates how the seed microbiome of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) confers resilience to forest ecosystems throughout the western United States, with particular focus on post-fire recovery. Using genome-resolved metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, germination tests, and greenhouse bioassays, the research will characterize bacterial communities within pine seeds and test whether these microorganisms colonize root tissues and rhizospheres following fire disturbance, thereby providing beneficial services to seedling establishment.

The project will additionally examine how global change disturbances—including varying fire severities and bark beetle-induced tree mortality—impact seed microbiome viability and post-fire forest recovery. A key deliverable includes the recovery of environmental isolates from P. contorta seeds to identify specific microbiome members that promote plant growth. The research outcomes are intended to provide biological solutions that may enhance vegetation regeneration efforts and advance understanding of microbiome processes governing forest resilience following disturbance. The work is being conducted at Colorado State University's research facilities in Fort Collins, Colorado.