Neha Potnis

Current Phytobiomes-related Projects

• Exploring plant-pathogen-microbiome-environment interactions towards tailoring plant disease management
  Summary:  We study how plant pathogens evolve, spread, and interact with their environment. For this, we conduct large-scale field surveys. Using our strain‑resolved metagenomics pipeline integrated with population genetics, we track gene‑level and population‑level variation in endemic plant pathogens. This approach has allowed us to examine how fine‑scale pathogen micro‑diversity, shaped by climate and local environmental conditions, can scale up to influence regional disease risk through eco‑evolutionary processes. Ultimately, our goal is to identify the key drivers of disease dynamics and reveal pathogen weaknesses that can inform targeted and sustainable disease management strategies.
  The plant-associated microbiome forms the first line of defense against invading pathogens. Thus, we need to understand how bacterial pathogens disrupt or exploit this protective microbial community during infection. We are investigating how pathogens manipulate the seed, seedling, and leaf microbiomes to promote their own colonization and persistence. A key area of our work examines the role of the Type VI secretion system in these interactions. By studying how T6SS influences pathogen competition, microbiome reshaping, and host colonization, we aim to uncover mechanisms that drive successful infection and identify potential microbiome‑based strategies for disease management.

• Microbiome assembly, dynamics and resilience in presence of abiotic stressors
  Summary: Variability in climatic conditions is reshaping how plants grow, respond to stress. Our research focuses on understanding how plant‑associated microbiomes contribute to resilience under these shifting environmental conditions. We are investigating how temperature stress influences microbiome assembly and dynamics in tomato across different stages of plant development. Of specific interest are microbes specifically recruited under stress and the interactions that help plant sustain the stress. Another major research area that we are exploring is drought tolerance in peanut. We are examining how microbial communities differ between drought‑tolerant and susceptible peanut varieties, and how community interactions contribute to improved stress resilience.