Presentation by Dr. Wen Chen, AAFC Research Scientist.
Plants do not live alone. Every root, leaf, and handful of soil is home to a community of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms known as the microbiome. Some of these microbes cause disease. Others help plants obtain nutrients, cope with drought, or defend themselves against infection.
Drawing on Canadian agricultural research, Dr. Wen Chen will introduce the hidden microbial world found in plants, soil, air, and water. She will show how scientists combine field observations, environmental sampling, DNA sequencing, and computational tools to detect plant-health threats and study beneficial microbes. She will discuss how this research could help us grow healthier crops, detect diseases earlier, and make Canadian agriculture more resilient.
