PhD student at: 
Leiden University

Supervisors:
Prof Dr. Jos M. Raaijmakers

Overall aim:
To study the impact of the tomato domestication on the beneficial microbe-plant association.

Objectives:

• To identify the microbial community composition in the rhizosphere of tomato both in native (Ecuador) and agricultural soil (The Netherlands).

• To identify the genetic features between wild and modern tomato genotypes and their associated microbiome.

• To determine the effect of root microbiome on tomato under biotic and abiotic stresses.

Expected Results:

• Characterization of the wild tomato microbiome in native habitats and the “missing” microbes detected by comparison between native and modern soil.

• Plant features related to microbial association identified by QTL analysis.

• The native microbiome protects plants against biotic and abiotic stresses.