RII Track-1: Center for Root and Rhizobiome Innovation (CRRI)

根与根瘤菌群创新中心（CRRI）承诺在了解植物如何通过根系与环境相互作用方面开辟新天地，目标是应用这些知识为社会提供更安全、更有弹性的食物系统的新技术。该项目建立在全州研究设施和专业知识的良好基础上，同时也对该研究基础设施进行了关键改进。这些知识中的大部分将在网上公开。该中心将大力整合多个学科，包括具有植物系统、化学生态学和微生物学等专业知识的科学家和工程师。在其研究议程的同时，该项目将继续几个成功的项目，提供旨在提高全州科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）教育可及性的外展和劳动力发展机会。CRRI将采用综合系统和合成生物学方法来研究植物根系代谢及其对近根土壤微生物群落（即根瘤菌群）的依赖关系。玉米品系的遗传变异将在其对根系分泌物产量的影响以及对根瘤菌群的影响的背景下进行研究。这些结果将用于开发改进的模型来描述遗传对植物系统行为的影响，并推动对非生物胁迫有更好反应的新工程玉米品系的开发。该项目将有助于提高对植物根系和根瘤菌群遗传多样性的认识。它还将导致农业重要作物工程方面的技术进步。

Non-technical DescriptionThe Center for Root and Rhizobiome Innovation (CRRI) promises to break new ground in understanding of how plants interact with their environment via their root systems, with the goal of applying that knowledge to provide society with new technologies for more secure and resilient food systems. The project is built upon an excellent statewide foundation of research facilities and expertise, while also making critical improvements to this research infrastructure. Much of this knowledge will be made publicly available online. The Center will be strongly integrated across many disciplines, involving scientists and engineers with expertise in plant systems, chemical ecology, and microbiology, among others. In parallel with its research agenda, the project will continue several successful programs that provide outreach and workforce development opportunities aimed at improving the accessibility of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education throughout the state. Technical Description The CRRI will employ integrated systems and synthetic biology approaches to investigate plant root metabolism and its interdependence on the near-root soil microbial community (i.e., the rhizobiome). The genetic variability of maize lines will be studied in the context of their influence on root exudate production and in turn on the rhizobiome. These results will be used to develop improved models to describe genetic influences on plant systems behavior and to drive the development of new engineered maize lines with improved responses to abiotic stresses. The project will lead to improved understanding of the genetic diversity of plant roots and the rhizobiome. It will also lead to technological advances toward the engineering of agriculturally vital crops.