Exploring the Other Maize Genome: Quantitative Analysis of How Maize Plants Interact with their Microbial Communities

Sequencing the maize genome was a major accomplishment for the maize research community and has opened up a wealth of research possibilities. However, it is becoming more apparent that no genome or organism operates in a vacuum, and the interactions with the many other biotic and abiotic factors in the environment can have a profound impact on phenotype. In this talk, we present an argument for studying maize’s “other genome,” consisting of the interactions it has with the millions of microbial organisms living around, on, and inside it. (Collectively called the maize microbiome.) We show through an analysis of the leaf community across diverse maize lines that at least some of the bacteria in these communities have a significant association with maize genotype. We also present data showing how the phenotype of maize plants can change depending on their association with fungal endophytes, especially under stress conditions. Finally, we address how these associations might be leveraged for better and more sustainable production. Although the study of crop microbiomes is relatively young, there is strong potential for significant results to come from studying how maize and other plants interact with their microbial communities and how these interactions can be used in global agriculture.