Impact of multigenerational drought on the wheat seed microbiome (ACCEPTED)

Abstract Wheat (Triticum spp.) is a staple food crop, providing a fifth of the world’s protein and caloric needs. Our research examines the impact of multi generation post-flowering drought stress on the wheat seed endophytic fungal community. Understanding how wheat seed fungal communities respond to drought stress over several generations can improve our knowledge of legacy drought stress. In this manuscript, we aim to identify seed associated fungi that play critical roles within the wheat seed under drought stress conditions.

Mapping microbial taxa and host disease severity

The genetic bases of how Barley’s genetic variation impacts the leaf mycobiome in the context of disease remain largely unknown. Here, we are using a mapping population of Barley Scald resistant and susceptible genotypes and applying metabarcoding strategies to identify interactions between host and fungal taxa that may influence disease outcomes.