Microbial communities associated with plants (PHYTOMICROBIOMES) are decisive in the adaptation of hosts to stress. Through enzymes and phytohormones, nutrient mobilization, removal of toxic pollutants, attenuation of stress responses, stimulation of immune defenses or biocontrol effect, PLANT-GROWTH PROMOTING BACTERIA (PGPB), well represented in the phytomicrobiomes, improve the growth and physiological condition of the hosts.

MICROBIOME ENGINEERING - targeted manipulation of the microbiome - represents a powerful biotechnological tool for the sustainability of agriculture, threatened by the risks arising from climate change (e.g. drought, aridity, soil salinization).

THE MICROBIOME OF HALOPHYTES has been studied as a model of the interactions underlying the contribution of PGPB to salt tolerance and halotolerant PGPBs, isolated from halophytes have been successfully tested to attenuate the salt stress of their natural hosts and plants of agricultural interest.

OLIVE TREESOlea europaeaare ancient crops in the Mediterranean regions. The high tolerance to aridity and drought, make the traditional varieties compatible with the low rainfall regime of these regions. However, intensive production in high-density olive orchards requires artificial restriction irrigation. Scarce precipitation may not ensure leaching of excess ions introduced into irrigation water, increasing the risk of SOIL SALINIZATION around the roots. O. europaea is relatively tolerant to salinity. However, salt stress negatively affects photosynthesis, growth and productivity and may also increase susceptibility to DISEASES.

THE OBJECTIVE of this proposal is to demonstrate that the engineering of the rhizosphere of an economically relevant crop (Olea europaea) with halotolerant PGPB, can effectively contribute to increase tolerance to abiotic stress (salinity) and biotic stress (infection).