Breeding for beneficial microbial associations

Can soil microbes boost sustainable farming?



Introduction:

This project explores how beneficial fungi can enhance crop growth, reduce fertiliser use, and improve drought resistance. By enhancing plant signals like strigolactone through advanced breeding, we aim to develop fungi-optimised crops, promoting eco-friendly farming suited to Swiss agriculture

Aim:

Modern agriculture depends heavily on fertilisers, which can harm the environment. Beneficial soil microbes, like arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), offer a sustainable alternative by improving plants' nutrient uptake and drought resistance. Recent studies showed AMF inoculation increased crop yields by up to 40% in Swiss fields, but many modern crops no longer benefit from AMF.

This project focuses on restoring these partnerships, particularly through a plant molecule called strigolactone (SL), which attracts AMF. Using advanced breeding techniques, we aim to (1) enhance SL production, (2) identify maize varieties best suited for AMF, and (3) understand Swiss farmers' views on adopting these practices.

By combining expertise in genetics, chemistry, ecology, and social sciences, the team will create so-lutions tailored to Swiss agriculture, promoting more sustainable and resilient farming.

Sustainable Farming through Microbes:

The outcomes of this project could transform farming by reducing the need for fertilisers, improving crop resilience to drought, and helping farmers adopt sustainable practices. The results will directly benefit Swiss agriculture by focusing on native fungi and locally recommended maize varieties. Ulti-mately, this research could help breeders design crops that thrive with beneficial microbes, creating a more sustainable and climate-resilient future for farming.

Funding

From  01.04.2025 – 31.03.2029 this project will be funded over the NRP 84 Plant Breeding Innovation research Programm by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)

NFP84

Project team


Dr. Stefanie Lutz, University of Zurich and Agroscope

Dr. Ido Rog, University of Zurich and Agroscope

Dr. Lukas Fesenfeld, ETH Zurich

Prof. Harro Bouwmeester, University of Amsterdam

Prof. Marcel van der Heijden, University of Zurich and Agroscope

Dr. Jürg Hiltbrunner, Agroscope


Contact

Stefanie Lutz

University of Zurich

Zollikerstrasse 107

8008 Zurich

+41 58 480 07 44

stefanie.lutz@uzh.ch


This article was written by Stefanie Lutz 11.03.2025


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