Mission

In the discovery project PROMISE I (2016-2022), we investigated the functional potential of soil and plant-associated microorganisms to disrupt the Striga life cycle. We accomplished this by identifying and characterizing a large collection of bacteria and fungi isolated from agricultural fields across the sorghum belt in Ethiopia. More specifically, we studied a diversity of mechanisms and the underlying chemistry by which soil and root-associated microorganisms can diminish the Striga seed bank or interfere with the early stages of root infection. The experimental work ranged from studying the effects of edaphic factors on microbial community diversity and functioning across different Ethiopian agro-ecologies and sorghum cultivars to microbe-mediated changes of host root architecture, root exudation, and induction of Striga resistance. We discovered the functional potential of soil and root-associated bacteria and fungi to: i) disrupt the early stages of the Striga life cycle through the production of Strigacidal volatile compounds, ii) cause Striga seed decay or suicidal germination, iii) degrade host-derived germination signals and haustorium-inducing factors, and iv) induce structural barriers (aerenchyma, suberin) in the host plant roots. In collaboration with local research institutes, we then developed initial strategies to augment Striga-suppressive activities of indigenous soil microbial communities to achieve Striga suppression in greenhouse and field settings.