Plant-associated microbial libraries for crop growth promotion and pathogen control
Unique collections of plant-associated yeasts, fungi, and bacteria available for partnership screening. Includes 96 yeast strains, 70 fungi and 50 bacteria from the spermosphere, and 80 fungal isolates from cotton roots including Trichoderma and Mortierella species. Early validation shows promise for accelerating soybean germination.
Overview
Auburn University offers access to unique plant-associated microbial collections housed in the Auburn University Plant Associated Microbial (AU-PAM) library. These libraries contain non-harmful microbes isolated from plant leaves, the spermosphere (the zone surrounding seeds), and roots. The collections are positioned as a resource for developing next-generation crop inoculants that promote plant growth and antagonize pathogens, addressing a foundational gap in knowledge about how to best utilize microbes in agricultural production.
Technical specifications
Collection contents:
- 96 yeast strains from 21 genera isolated from plant leaves
- 70 fungal and 50 bacterial isolates from the spermosphere
- 80 fungal isolates from cotton roots, including several Trichoderma species and 50 Mortierella strains
Key characteristics:
- Mortierella is an under-explored fungal group closely related to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, known to promote growth through assimilation of phosphorus and micronutrients
- All strains are plant-associated and non-pathogenic
- Preliminary screening of five plant-associated yeast strains for soybean seedling germination showed that two yeasts reduced time to germination by four days (p < 0.05)
Partnership opportunities:
- Screening collections for sustained endophytic colonization (microbes that live inside plant tissues without causing harm)
- Genome sequencing of strains for novel trait-based discovery
- Expected project duration of approximately one year
Technology readiness level
The microbial collections are established and have undergone preliminary validation, with early-stage evidence of germination acceleration in soybean. Further validation through endophytic colonization screening and genomic characterization is needed to advance these strains toward commercial crop inoculant applications. The research group seeks partnerships to support graduate student and/or technician effort in advancing these collections toward practical agricultural use.
About Auburn University
Auburn University is a comprehensive public land‑grant research university serving industry from its main campus in Auburn, Alabama. Companies engage through a research and technology park offering on‑site convening space and services, and via a Huntsville Research and Innovation Campus embedded in Cummings Research Park near Redstone Arsenal. A long‑standing cooperative education program and a statewide extension network link employers to student talent and field deployment across Alabama. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from agencies such as NSF, USDA, DoD, and NASA. The university’s Intellectual Property Exchange provides IP management, licensing, and commercialization support.
Inquire about this partnering listing
Looking for
Industry applications
delivered to your inbox.