What Lurks Beneath: How Soil Microbes Support Plant Health

 Learn about how microbes in soil affect plant health and how plant health, in turn, affects humans and the planet.For decades, companies have developed fungal additives for farmers to increase crop productivity.  But little is known about how well those work even in the most common crop plants such as corn and soy.  Even less is known about the bacteria that influence plant health and about the impact these microbes have in plant ecosystems other than common crops.

Professor Wesley Swingley will share insights from a current National Science Foundation-funded study at Morton Arboretum and the Nachusa Grasslands designed to illuminate how bacteria and fungi interact with prairie plant roots.

To access the online meeting, go to go.niu.edu/whatlurksbeneath to register in advance. The presentation will begin promptly at 6 p.m. and will last approximately 2 hours. On a computer, the Chrome browser works best, and you will be asked to download the Adobe Connect app. For tablets and mobile phones, go to your app store and download the Adobe Connect mobile app before attending. You will be able to listen to the speakers and will have a chance to type in your questions.

This is presented as part of the NIU STEM Cafe Series. Questions or need more information? Contact jdymond@niu.edu or 815-753-4751.