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Our global agricultural nitrogen needs are met by a combination of chemical fertilizers and biological nitrogen fixation that occurs in specialized organs called root nodules in crop plants like soybeans. My lab's research program seeks to meet our agricultural nitrogen needs in a sustainable manner by increasing the proportion of biologically-fixed nitrogen. Toward this goal, my lab has identified key plant hormone mechanisms that regulate nodule formation in the soybean. This knowledge is key to develop strategies that maximize biological nitrogen fixation capacity in soybeans.

Most land plants grow in intimate association with complex microbiota. Plant-associated microbes can act as protectants against phytopathogens, improve growth through production of phytohormones, gain acquisition of nutrients, help plants withstand various abiotic stresses and more. Therefore, plant health and productivity can be significantly improved in a sustainable manner by enabling the presence of an optimal beneficial microbial community. My lab has engaged with a team of researchers, including bioinformaticians, soil scientists, agronomists and microbiologists, with the goal of determining and optimizing the ideotype microbiomes of crop plants.