Maggie Wagner

Current Phytobiomes-related Projects

• Pattern-triggered immunity and microbiome function in hybrid inbred maize.
  In collaboration with Dr. Peter Balint-Kurti (USDA-ARS) we are following up on our observations that (1) hybrid maize genotypes exhibit weaker ROS bursts than inbred genotypes when exposed to microbe-associated molecular patterns, and (2) some maize QTL exhibit negative heterosis for disease resistance in a pathogen-dependent manner. Both results help to explain our earlier observation that root-associated microbes modulate the strength of heterosis, but many questions remain about why hybrids and inbreds interact differently with certain microorganisms.

• Local adaptation and integrative biology of Eastern gamagrass.
  Eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides) is both a valued forage grass and the closest relative of maize that is native to the U.S. Corn Belt. My lab is using field and greenhouse experiments to investigate patterns of genetic, physiological, and anatomical variation within T. dactyloides throughout the species range, with a special focus on interactions with soil microbiota and adaptation to both water deprivation and waterlogging stress.

• Using SynComs to probe mechanisms of microbiome heritability and community function.
  In collaboration with Dr. Manuel Kleiner’s team at North Carolina State University, we developed and characterized ZeaMiC, a synthetic microbial community (SynCom) of 88 bacteria that colonize maize roots. ZeaMiC is a community resource available through the DSMZ. We are now using ZeaMic to investigate how root bacteria affect host drought tolerance, how microbial load differs among host genotypes, and several other burning questions.

• Adaptive evolution of belowground traits and microbiome interactions in Boechera stricta.
  Following up on old evidence that naturally-occurring soil microbial communities impact variation in ecologically important plant traits, and new evidence that host plant genotype influences variation in belowground microbial communities, we are exploring the role of root-associated microbes in the evolution of complex plant traits. This work is in collaboration with Dr. Lauren Carley (University of Chicago).

• High-throughput discovery of microbial genes affecting root colonization ability.
  With collaborators at North Carolina State University (Nathan Crook, Manuel Kleiner) and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Omri Finkel), we are identifying novel genes that improve bacterial colonization and persistence on plant roots. The innovative functional genomics approach developed by Dr. Crook’s team transforms genetic fragments from rhizosphere soil into carrier bacterial species that can be inoculated onto plants for high-throughput gain-of-function screens.