Rotating crops, shaping microbiomes: a sustainable path to enhanced wheat production

If you are a motivated and curious PhD candidate eager to contribute to global food security, this is your opportunity!  Join us for an exciting PhD project where you will engage with cutting-edge resources and innovative methods.  Our multidisciplinary team is dedicated to providing you with extensive training in microbiology, bioinformatics, ecological and evolutionary processes, mutagenesis, and plant pathology.  This is a chance for you to gain valuable expertise and make a significant impact in the field. 

Wheat is a crucial crop that feeds a significant portion of the world's population. Yet, its cultivation often depends on chemical inputs that can harm the environment and affect biodiversity.  Thankfully, recent advances in DNA sequencing have shed light on the hidden world of plant-associated microbes, which play a vital role in improving crop health and productivity.  One discovery is the impact of crop rotation and intercropping on these microbial communities. For instance, rotating wheat with other crops like peas and lupins creates a diverse network of root-associated bacteria (1). These microbes can enhance phosphorus uptake, making the soil more fertile and less dependent on chemical fertilisers for crop production. Additionally, recent research has shown that high doses of chemical fertilisers reduce the number of beneficial bacteria around roots (2).  

The project aims to explore how crop rotation and intercropping influence these beneficial microbial communities. We believe that integrating these practices can improve soil health and boost wheat performance by promoting helpful bacteria. Specific project elements are: 

1. Microbiome assessment. You will investigate how rotating crops and intercropping with wheat affect the bacterial communities in the soil and associated with crops.  

2. Beneficial bacteria characterisation. You will isolate and study plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) from different crop systems. These bacteria have been shown to help plants grow by improving nutrient uptake and defending against diseases. 

3. Comparison of beneficial traits. You will assess whether PGPR from specific crop combinations offer better growth-promoting traits compared to others. 

4. Crop performance enhancement with bio-inoculants. You will test bacterial inoculants derived from different crops to assess whether they can boost soil and crop health and performance. 

5. Adaptation and regulation evaluation. Finally, you will investigate how crop rotation and intercropping influence bacterial adaptability, including changes in gene expression that help bacteria adjust to new environments. 

Our aim as the SWBio DTP is to support students from a range of backgrounds and circumstances. Where needed, we will work with you to take into consideration reasonable project adaptations (for example to support caring responsibilities, disabilities, other significant personal circumstances) as well as flexible working and part-time study requests, to enable greater access to a PhD.  All our supervisors support us with this aim, so please feel comfortable in discussing further with the listed PhD project supervisor to see what is feasible.