Catholic University of Leuven (K.U.Leuven)

http://www.cmpg.be

The Centre for Microbial and Plant Genetics at the K.U. Leuven is dedicated to researching microbe-host interactions, with research groups for Associative Interactions, Symbiotic Interactions, Plant-Fungi Interactions, Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria and Biodegradation, Probiotics, and Bioinformatics. The group of Prof Jos Vanderleyden has developed a strong programme of research on Azospirillum brasilense, investigating its mechanisms of action through development and characterisation of mutant strains, gene function studies, and observation of processes of plant root adhesion and colonisation.

In RHIBAC, K.U.Leuven will contribute its expertise on development of mutant strains of Azospirillum brasilense for unraveling of plant growth promotion effects, and will seek to develop a better understanding of biological processes that can assist with survival and colonisation of the wheat rhizosphere. The group will benefit from access to the Azospirillum genome as the sequencing and annotation of the A. brasilense Sp245 genome is ongoing.