Microbial dispersal

Foliar microbes have a variety of dispersal mechanisms to successfully  colonize leaf tissue. These include 1) vertical transmission via seed, 2) bioaerosol transmission in the atmosphere, and 3) animal transmission. Microbes can also disperse on a local level. For example, bacteria can increase leaf surface colonization by using 'fungal highways'. My research is interested in looking at the limitations of microbial dispersal and how variations in dispersal mechanisms affect microbiome community assembly and persistence across space and time.

Host-trait effects

The anatomy, physiology, and subsequent microclimates of leaves vary greatly between and within plant species. These variations in physical and chemical parameters of above ground plant organs (e.g. leaves and seeds) allow for a multitude of niche spaces for phyllosphere microbes. These niches select for specific microbe taxa which subsequently determine how the rest of the plant microbiome assembles. By understanding the traits associated with microbe selection we can better understand how plant microbiome communities assemble and persist.

Applied microbiomes

​​Leaf-associated microbes form diverse communities that play key roles in the regulation of plant host health, including modulation of disease severity. Integrating microbes into the plant microbiome may be the next step to creating sustainable long-term solution to both agricultural and native ecosystems. By testing various combinations of microbes, we can find the most effective microbiome composition that promotes beneficial community stability, plant health, and ultimately disease resistance.