Ongoing research projects:
Development of native rhizosphere community-based microbial consortia (CBC) for crop stress tolerance improvement and habitat re-creation
Integrating rhizosphere microbiomes from Africa, Israel and in the Baltic Sea Region. We analyze the role of root microbiome from the crop plants wild relatives, landraces and the representatives from naturally growing in stress habitats.
Our studies illustrate the importance of method for selection of CBC (also known as PGPR) and nanoparticles for the CBC formulation. Our results explain the generally observed inconsistent behaviour of PGPRs in field application. The nanoparticle effect is soil specific and is related to the particles’ ability to modulate the surface formation of complexes with important types of biomolecules such as phospholipids and proteins. Understanding the pathways improves the effectiveness of formulation and optimize the mutually complex interactions, as it allows their regulated delivery and release, focusing on specific tissues and cells at specific times. In this innovative transdisciplinary approach, we combine breeding lines and rhizosphere bacteria from the natural resources and vegetative drought tolerant plants. We combine experimental studies and cultivation-independent bioinformatic analysis to identify putative bacterial consortia.
Plant genomic studies: associations with crop plant water use efficiency, bioremediation ability and nutritional element uptake
Goal: Identification of crop plant genomic sequences associated with the stress factor of the study (drought, pollution, nutritional deficiency). Identification of genomic markers for CBC interaction to be employed in breeding programs
Our studies reveal five times greater survival and 78% higher biomass in inoculated plants under drought stress using the bacterial consortia from the harsh environments. We optimise the bacterial beneficial effect via genomic studies, bioactive compound identification and development of formulation strategies using crystalline TiO2 and native silica nanoparticles for encapsulation of microorganisms. Coalescence of nanoparticles self-assembling on the surface of cell membranes leads to formation of dense and stable shells able to improve survival and function of plant growth promoting bacteria.
Industrial application of microbial consortia
Grapes under Climate Change (Grapes CC)
One of the keys is the approachto not only seeing the issues in the local ecosystem and production context but on a global scale. Hence, soil C and N dynamics is focused. Our two main objectives are internationalisation of research and internationalisation of education in the field of wine-making under climate change.
The first goal - internationalisation of research (IoR) - aims at facilitating exchanges of knowledge and experience as well as co-creation of common strategies between researchers from Sweden, Armenia, Georgia and Chile.
In order to develop climate change mitigation strategies, researchers from different climate zones will necessitate working together. For these strategies to be as efficient and comprehensive as possible, a multi-actor approach, involving academic and agricultural stakeholders at an international level, is fundamental.
The second goal - internationalisation of education (IoE) - focuses on the strategies of education students. In order to adapt wine grapes to extreme, unpredictable conditions, future wine producers will have to be able to share expertise and best practices with colleagues from other geographical zones. As international collaboration is crucial, students need to acquire the skills to engage in it.
Bioremediation of pollution generated by manmade chemicals in the form of industrial activity, agricultural chemicals, or the improper disposal of waste
Goal: Replacement of conventional methods routinely used for the remediation of contaminated environmental soil and water such as excavation, transport to specialized landfills, incineration, stabilization, and vitrification. Bioremediation technologies using native microbial consortia offer many advantages over traditional remediation technologies as they can be applied in situ without the need for removal and transport of contaminated soil/water, are economical, less labour-intensive and have a lower carbon footprint.
Dissemination and communication: Crop plant microbiome is an essential tool for future production systems
Goal: To maximize the impact of project 1 and 2 derived information
While human microbiome research is increasingly applied in practical medicine, plant-microbial interaction research has a relatively weak link to practical agriculture. The future production systems will be based on carefully designed crops and crop specific microbiome focusing on ecologial resoration, habitat creation and crop production profitability. The link to public education, practical agriculture/industry and civil society will be strengthened via product and method communication. In collaboration to social scientists, we establish trans-national collaboration between researchers and stakeholders and carry out dissemination and communication activities addressed to district audiences by using our projects concepts and results.
