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Poster

Session: Session 2 Presenting Authors at Posters (Odds)

P-427 - Too Hot to Handle? Unlocking novel plant-microbe interactions under heat stress

Wednesday, July 16, 2025
13:30 - 15:15  
Location: Confex Hall 3
Plant Regulation of biotic and abiotic stress – trade-offs
Abstract Text:

Climate change negatively impacts plant productivity by exacerbating abiotic stresses such as extreme temperatures, drought, salinity, and nutrient scarcity. The plant root system plays a crucial role in adapting to heat stress, with soil thermal-geodynamic properties naturally buffering root-zone temperature fluctuations. Additionally, microbial communities influence plant resilience and are themselves affected by heat stress, making their interactions with plants a key factor in adaptation. However, traditional in vitro and greenhouse experiments often fail to replicate natural root-zone temperature dynamics. To address this gap, we used TGRooZ (Temperature Gradient Root Zone), an innovative device that mimics natural soil-temperature gradients through a cooling system. This technology provides a unique platform to investigate how heat stress shapes plant-microbe interactions and plant performance. Using this technology, we established a novel collection of endophytic and root-associated fungi from tomato plants grown under heat stress using natural soils. This fungal collection was screened in vitro for growth-promoting effects in Arabidopsis under heat stress using the TGRooZ device at 32°C, and several candidates that increased plant thermotolerance have been identified.  Investigating these fungal communities could provide valuable insights into plant-fungi interactions under heat stress and contribute to understanding novel mechanisms of plant thermotolerance.