Disease Suppressive Microbes

This project is developing a deep understanding of the ways in which plant-beneficial microbes in the root microbiome promote growth and suppress disease. This knowledge can then be used to develop synthetic soils and other products which might be particularly useful for growing high value crops in glasshouses and poly-tunnels.

As a model system the research will focus on root mat disease in tomatoes, caused by Rhizobium radiobacter biovar 1.

The research is organised into three work packages;

1. Isolating and understanding the mechanisms of disease suppressive microbes
2. Developing a synthetic, foam-based, soil with added disease suppressive microbes
3. Optimising synthetic soil formulations and demonstrating effectiveness through large scale trials

Meet the Disease Suppressive Microbes Team