Plant Microbiomes for a Resilient Future

3.0 credits · Undergraduate

Although you may not see them, microbes are integral to all areas of life. Collectively known as the plant microbiome, the microbes that colonize plants perform critical roles in ecosystem function and plant health. But how will these microbial services and plant-microbe interactions change in a warming climate? Understanding three-way interactions between plants, microbiota, and the environment is critical for our ability to ensure food security in a changing climate. Throughout this course, students will use current literature to examine major questions and recent advances in microbiome science. We will focus primarily on bacterial and fungal microbiome members to gain an understanding of methods to study microbial communities and their functions across plant niches and species.