Featured Project

Improved identification and detection of select agent Ralstonia solanacearum strains threatening the US potato industry

The goal of this project is to develop a data-driven framework for improving the regulation and detection of Rs strains that threaten US agriculture.

The primary purpose of this project is to precisely circumscribe the authentically threatening Rs strains that are highly aggressive on potato at cool temperatures using a combination of phenotypic assays and bioinformatics to evaluate current diagnostic markers.

Upcoming Events

Organized by the Alliance

Designing biosensors to inform ecosystem engineering

Webinar
10 September 2025 • Virtual

Featured Sponsor

Syngenta

Syngenta Crop Protection is a leader in agricultural innovation, bringing breakthrough technologies and solutions that enable farmers to grow productively and sustainably. We offer a leading portfolio of crop protection solutions for plant and soil health, as well as digital solutions that transform the decision-making capabilities of farmers. Our 17,900 employees serve to advance agriculture in more than 90 countries around the world. Syngenta Crop Protection is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, and is part of the Syngenta Group.

Latest News

  • The Alliance participated to 40th International Society for Animal Genetics Conference in Korea with a poster and an oral presentation.
  • Join us this fall for three webinars showcasing the diversity of phytobiomes research topics – from biosensor development to microbiome applications in plants and livestock.
  • Microbiomes play critical roles in sustainable agriculture and food security, particularly influencing ruminant health, productivity, nutrition and the environment.
  • Understanding how microbiomes influence plant health and productivity is crucial for developing sustainable agricultural management strategies. However, the complexity and context-dependency of microbial effects on plant traits present significant challenges for researchers and product developers. This webinar highlights two contrasting yet complementary approaches to microbiome research: reductionist studies using synthetic microbial communities and field-based investigations in complex agricultural systems. The first talk examines how simplified systems can reveal fundamental mechanisms of microbe-host interactions. Using metaproteomics, Dr. Manuel Kleiner’s lab studies the metabolic and physiological adaptations of seven maize root-associated bacterial species grown in vitro and in planta, uncovering both conserved and species-specific functions that drive microbial niche specialization in the root environment. The second talk, presented by Dr. Onyemaechi Henry Obiazikwor, shifts to the complexities of real-world field conditions, showcasing how commercially available biological products, including live microbes, organic acids, and fish-seaweed fertilizer, influence tomato crop yield and soil microbiomes. These field trials highlight the challenges of translating lab-based research into agricultural practice and the importance of understanding seasonal and farm environmental variability. Together, these talks provide a unique perspective on how different experimental scales and approaches can be leveraged to understand and utilize the plant microbiome for enhancing crop production.

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