Are you interested in using microbiology and microscopy to visualise plant-microbe interactions?
Bacterial biocontrol agents can provide protection against fungal plant pathogens. Currently, bacterial protection strategies are not as effective as chemical fungicides. Efficacy must be improved in order for environmentally favourable biocontrol’s to be used in preference of chemicals. Biocontrol agents such as the bacteria Bacillus subtilis, function through the formation of a protective biofilm, these bacteria are able to protect plants through direct competition with pathogens and also through the production of antimicrobial compounds. However, a complete and comprehensive image of the biofilm on the leaf phyllosphere, has not yet been achieved. Nor has the interaction between the bacteria and the pathogen been fully visualised. Through understanding these three way interactions and characterising the protective biofilm we can help to protect plants from fungal pathogens.
Here we will focus on engineering bacterial coatings for strawberry plants in order to optimise protection against foliar plant pathogens. During this project you will:
1. Quantify plant pathogen infection in the leaf phyllosphere in the presence & absence of protective bacteria.
2. Describe biofilm contiguity over time using both imaging and molecular techniques.
3. Quantify the impact of different additives and different Bacillus species on biofilm integrity.
4. Quantify the native and treated biofilms of susceptible and disease resistant strawberry plants to identify genotype specific interactions.
Enhancing biological biofilms will mean that crops require fewer chemical fungicide applications which will not only reduce environmental pollution but will also lower food pesticide residues. Ultimately, reduced fungal disease epidemics will result in greater yields and lower food wastage.
Deadline: 31 March 2023 (23:59 GMT)
Start date: September 2023