Microbial solutions to enhance drought resilience in lawns and gardens
Research develops microbial-based solutions to improve plant resilience to drought and heat stress in lawn and garden systems. The approach uses naturally occurring plant-associated bacteria to promote robust root development, stabilize growth under stress, and support recovery after water limitation. Lead microbial candidates are evaluated in controlled drought and heat stress assays, followed by down-selection using lawn and garden–relevant performance metrics and assessment of formulation compatibility and shelf-stability at pilot scale.
Overview
Research develops an approach to enhancing plant resilience against drought and heat stress in lawns and gardens through microbial-based solutions. The work leverages naturally occurring plant-associated bacteria to promote robust root development, stabilize plant growth under stress, and support recovery following water limitation.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Utilizes a collection of plant-associated bacteria to strengthen root systems and buffer physiological responses.
- Initial focus on evaluating lead microbial candidates in turfgrass and other plants using controlled drought and heat stress assays.
- Generates application-relevant performance data and assesses formulation compatibility.
Research process:
- Down-selection of microbial candidates using performance metrics relevant to lawn and garden systems.
- Conducting replicated drought and heat stress assays under controlled conditions.
- Evaluation of formulation compatibility and shelf-stability at pilot scale.
Technology readiness level
The technology is currently at TRL 4, with ongoing efforts to validate the performance of microbial candidates in controlled and application-relevant environments. This staged approach aims to efficiently scale and deploy microbial solutions for enhanced plant resilience.
About Princeton University
Princeton University is a private, research-intensive university in Princeton, New Jersey, known for a tightly integrated campus and a globally connected research enterprise. Industry partners engage through a dedicated corporate relations team that brokers sponsored research, consortia, and talent pipelines. Co-located assets include shared user facilities for advanced imaging and nanofabrication, a university-managed U.S. Department of Energy national lab, and a research park that hosts corporate collaborators. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from agencies such as NSF, NIH, DOE, DoD, and NASA. A technology transfer office provides IP strategy, licensing, and startup support, complemented by an affiliated incubator and mentor network.
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