Exploring the microbiome of desert plants

In arid environments, where vegetation is sparse, it is expected that the survival of microbes is strongly dependent on the survival of their plant host. Despite the growing need for agriculture under water-limiting conditions, the microbiota of desert plants and the adaptations that they confer on their host remain underexplored. We will conduct a concerted survey of the microbial genomes found in association with desert plants, covering a variety of soil types and plant species.