Engineering seed-soil microbiome coalescence to promote plant health

Limited knowledge is available on the role of plant microbiota in the early stages of plant life, especially during germination and emergence when a coalescence between the seed and soil microbiome occurs. Gaining a better understanding of the seed-soil microbiome coalescence and its impact on seed germination and seedling establishment is particularly timely as the seed industry is preparing for a major revolution in seed treatments associated to the reduction of pesticide usage. In this talk, I will present how engineering seed-soil microbiome coalescence represents a promising solution for a more sustainable agriculture.