Ana Margarida Santos

Ana Margarida Santos is conducting a Ph.D. in Biology by the University of Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon starting in 2024 within the PSE. She is conducting the project "DryBound: a synthetic microbial consortium co-designed by drought and tomato plants", under the supervision of Cristina Cruz, CE3C and Juliana melo, Soilvitae. DryBound project aims are: (1) harness plant growth-promoting microbes (recruited by drought-tolerant Mediterranean plant species) to enhance the drought tolerance of a drought-sensitive crop; (2) elucidate the role of stochastic (i.e., total plant microbiome) and deterministic plant-microbe interactions (i.e., core microbiome) in leveraging plant-microbial relationships in agricultural practices; (3) understand the molecular genetics and modes of action involved in plant growth promotion by the microorganisms forming the synthetic consortium; (4) assess the feasibility, from the company standpoint, of the distinct steps to establish a standard approach for co-designing other synthetic microbial consortia targeting other hosts and stress factors; and (5) construct a repository of potential plant-growth promoting microorganisms associated with tomato plants rhizosphere.