Engineered root-associated microbiomes for crop pest protection and health
A novel microbiome engineering platform from Purdue University that selects and optimizes soil microbial communities to protect crops from insect pests, with demonstrated 14% reduction in aphid performance on tomato. Future work extends to a precision phenotyping device (EcoFAB) for testing engineered microbial consortia across multiple crop species.
Overview
The Enders Lab at Purdue University is developing engineered root-associated microbiomes that protect crops from chewing and sap-feeding insect pests while supporting overall agroecosystem health. By applying a multi-generational selection approach, the lab has identified soil microbial communities that significantly reduce aphid performance on tomato plants compared to randomly selected controls. This work positions the plant microbiome as a novel, sustainable lever for improving crop yield and resilience, reducing dependence on chemical pesticides.
Technical specifications
- Multi-generational selection platform: Exposes host plants to insect pressure and selects for microbiomes that confer enhanced pest protection, enriching for beneficial microbial functions.
- Engineered microbial consortia: Designed communities of root-associated microbes that improve plant nutrient acquisition and defense against pests and pathogens.
- Validated pest suppression: Demonstrated a ~14% reduction in aphid performance on tomato relative to controls (p < 0.05).
- EcoFAB experimental ecosystem device: A novel device for manipulating and testing microbial effects on crop health, designed to interface with automated sensing platforms such as hyperspectral imaging.
- Precision phenotyping integration: Combines microbiome science with high-throughput phenotyping across multiple crop species and a suite of plant traits.
Technology readiness level
The approach has reached proof-of-concept validation in tomato, with statistically significant pest suppression demonstrated in controlled experiments. The next phase will extend the platform by building EcoFAB devices, integrating automated hyperspectral and other sensing modalities, and testing engineered consortia across additional crop species and plant traits. The project timeline is approximately one year, and the team is seeking partnership support for microbial testing capabilities, 3D printing of experimental devices, and key personnel.
About Purdue University
Purdue University is a comprehensive public land‑grant research institution in West Lafayette, Indiana, anchored by a large residential campus. Industry engages through co‑located core facilities, pilot‑scale testbeds, and an adjacent innovation district that brings together labs, corporate R&D space, and maker resources near faculty talent. A statewide Extension network and an established engineering co‑op program connect companies to field sites, workforce pipelines, and pragmatic pathways from concept to deployment across Indiana. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from NSF, DOE, USDA, NIH, and the Department of Defense, and commercialization is managed by a dedicated technology transfer office in partnership with the university’s affiliated research foundation.
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