[Plsfaculty] Erica Cortez MS Thesis Defense, 29 July, 9 AM ENR2 S215

[Mark A Beilstein]

Please join us on Tuesday, July 29th in ENR2 room S215 when Erica Cortez
will defend her MS thesis entitled "ENDOPHYTIC BACTERIA FROM ROOTS OF
HIGH-PERFORMING TEPARY BEAN (PHASEOLUS ACUTIFOLIUS A. GRAY): FUNCTIONAL
TRAITS, GENOMICS, AND INFLUENCE ON SEEDLING GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT"

Abstract:

Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are globally consumed legumes that are
vulnerable to climate change. An alternative protein source is the closely
related tepary bean (P. acutifolius), which offers high protein content as
well as genetic traits that confer resilience to the increased drought and
heat affecting agriculture under our changing climate. Tepary beans are
native to the southwestern US, Mexico, and Central America, especially in
settings too hot and dry for common beans to flourish. Like other species
in arid and semi-arid environments, tepary beans likely flourish in part
due to their symbiosis with beneficial endophytes. In this thesis, I
characterize selected bacteria isolated as endophytes from roots of
high-performing, field‑grown tepary beans in Arizona. I examine their
plant‑growth promoting traits in vitro, characterize their genomes and
biosynthetic potential, and – through seed treatments and a subsequent
field experiment at the Maricopa Agriculture Center – assess their effects
on the early phenotypes and root microbiomes of tepary bean seedlings. I
show that the Bacillus species commonly associated with roots of
high-performing tepary bean consistently demonstrate plant growth promoting
traits, thermotolerance, and seed adhesion in vitro. Their genomes reveal
rich secondary metabolite repertoires. Seed biopriming did not result in
changes in early seedling phenotypes or root microbiomes, but it is
predicted that beneficial impacts might be seen in seedlings or over the
full season under more severe water limitation and heat than that during
the field experiment. Together, the lines of inquiry presented in this work
advance our understanding of the root microbiomes of plants and how they
may aid us in addressing global food security as we seek sustainable
approaches for producing nutritious foods in a changing world.

___________________
Mark Beilstein, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Director of Graduate Studies
Bart Cardon Fellow
School of Plant Sciences
P.O. Box 210036
Forbes Building, Room 303
Tucson, AZ 85721-0036
mab-lab.org
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