Reporter-based screening platform for plant defense-inducing microbes in crops
A transgenic Arabidopsis-based platform that uses promoter::GFP/YFP reporter constructs to screen rhizosphere and endophyte microbes for their ability to induce crop defense responses. Designed to identify beneficial biocontrol agents missed by conventional antifungal-based screening, enabling more effective selection of plant protection candidates.
Overview
Current screening for microbial biocontrol agents relies heavily on in vitro tests for antifungal or antimicrobial activity, which can overlook beneficial microorganisms that protect crops through other mechanisms—particularly the induction of plant defense responses. This platform addresses that gap by providing a direct, rational screening method for microbes that activate host defense pathways, enabling the discovery of biocontrol candidates that conventional approaches would miss. The technology is relevant for agricultural input companies, crop protection researchers, and partners developing next-generation biological products for sustainable agriculture.
Technical specifications
- Arabidopsis-based reporter system using promoter::GFP/YFP constructs to monitor activation of defense-related genes in real time.
- Multi-pathway coverage through selected promoters from the salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid/ethylene (JA/ET) defense signaling pathways.
- Cloning and transformation pipeline leveraging Arabidopsis's efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and existing plasmid stock collections for rapid construct generation.
- Microbial input pipeline accepting rhizosphere isolates and endophytes from diverse crops for inoculation assays.
- Fluorescence-based readout comparing GFP/YFP expression before and after pathogen challenge to confirm defense induction.
- High-throughput potential by simplifying gene expression analysis across multiple defense pathways and microbial isolates.
Technology readiness level
The platform is at an early-to-mid development stage. The underlying promoter::reporter toolkit concept has been demonstrated in prior Arabidopsis studies, and the team plans to clone selected SA and JA/ET pathway promoters, generate transgenic Arabidopsis lines, and validate the system using crop-isolated microbes with pathogen challenge assays. Further optimization and scaling will be required before commercial deployment.
About Universidad Nacional de Rosario
Universidad Nacional de Rosario is a comprehensive public research university serving approximately 86,000 students with about 7,000 professors and 716 research teams. Industry partners access co‑located national research institutes through the CONICET Rosario scientific and technological center, with laboratories embedded on UNR campuses. UNR connects with the regional innovation ecosystem via the Polo Tecnológico Rosario—a public‑private technology park—and through a dedicated office that structures collaborative R&D, contract services, and testing. Clinical education and applied research are strengthened by integration with teaching hospitals and care delivered at the Eva Perón and Centenario hospitals. Research is supported by competitive national science and innovation programs, including CONICET; a technology transfer office manages IP protection, patent licensing, and industry agreements.
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