Use of Plant Growth-Promoting Microbes for Improved Soybean Yield and Stress Tolerance

This project was funded by the KSPB grant program in 2017, and has allowed us to obtain exciting data related to the use of the biocontrol agent Trichoderma in regulating soybean growth and development as well as response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Our work has yielded exciting insights into chemicals that could contribute to induced resistance and abiotic tolerance. In addition, we showed that Trichoderma positively regulates Rhizobia- mediated nitrogen fixation. Funding is requested for an additional year to complete the ongoing molecular and biochemical characterization and to acquire additional data that will allow us to develop more robust use of Trichoderma and the chemicals identified in this project for field applications. The overall goal of this research project is to increase profitability of soybean production by simultaneously increase yield as well as tolerance against biotic and abiotic stresses.