A Reproducible and Tunable Synthetic Soil Microbial Community Provides New Insights into Microbial Ecology
Joanna Coker, Kateryna Zhalnina, Clarisse Marotz, Deepan Thiruppathy, Megan Tjuanta, Gavin D’Elia, Rodas Hailu, Talon Mahosky, Meagan P. Rowan, Trent R. Northen, Karsten Zengler
Abstract
Microbes associate with plants in distinct soil communities to the benefit of both the soil microbes and the plants. Interactions between plants and these microbes can improve plant growth and health and are therefore a field of study in sustainable agricultural research. In this study, a model community of 16 soil bacteria has been developed to further the reproducible study of plant-soil microbe interactions. The preservation of the microbial community has been optimized for dissemination to other research settings. Overall, this work will advance soil microbe research through the optimization of a robust, reproducible model community.