This U.S.-Argentina award supports Dr. Ann E. Stapleton, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, as she undertakes a correlative study to identify relationships of four factors to patterns of microbial diversity on plant leaves of tomato and maize. These four factors are: plant species type; plant genotype; U.V. radiation exposure; and exposure to insect pests. She will collaborate with Dr. Carlos Ballare at the Agricultural Plant Physiology and Ecology Research Institute (IFEVA) in Buenos Aires, Argentina. They will measure microbial diversity using Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE).
This work will increase our understanding of what is known about the microbial ecology of this phylosphere. The project will combine the PI's expertise in molecular genetics and genomes with her counterpart's expertise in ecology and ecophysiology.
