Matters Microbial #90: Using Soil Microbiomes in Sustainable Agriculture

Matters Microbial #90: Using Soil Microbiomes in Sustainable Agriculture May 8, 2025

Today, Dr. Francisco Dini Andreote, Assistant Professor of Phytobiomes at Penn State, joins the #QualityQuorum to tell us about the microbiome of plants and the soil, and how understanding that relationship can improve agriculture.

Host: Mark O. Martin

Guest: Francisco Dini Andreote

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Links for this episode

• An overview of the Type 6 Secretory System of bacteria—almost like a microbial switchblade knife.
• A wonderful video of the T6SS made by a student in my own microbiology course some time ago.
• A video introduction to the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis and why you should care about it (by my PhD advisor from long ago, Dr. Sharon Long).
• A more comprehensive review article on the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis. 
• The chemical signal of geosmin, and how it might be used by other organisms.
• Ecological succession in the development of sauerkraut.
• A must read essay by Carl Zimmer likening the human body to a number of ecological niches.
• The developing field of agroecology. 
• A reminder about the “One Health” concept.
• Mycorrhizae and plant nutrition.
• Chemical communication within the soil.
• A fun remembrance of Norman Borlaug, who urged us to “listen” to plants.
• An overview of the root microbiome.
• The “superorganism” concept versus the “holobiome” concept..
• Striga, a parasite of crop plants.
• Chemical communication and Striga. 
• An interesting and relevant publication from Dr. Dini Andreote’s research group, describing how the root microbiome could help agriculture. 
• Dr. Dini Andreote’s faculty website.
• Dr. Dini Andreote’s very wonderful research team website.

Intro music is by Reber Clark

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