Recipient Organization
UNIV OF IDAHO
875 PERIMETER DRIVE
MOSCOW,ID 83844-9803
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Seeds are the fundamental unit of plant reproduction and the basis of the human food system. From vegetable seed, to certified cereals, to native species for rangeland restoration, seed production comprises a major agricultural and natural resource industry in the Intermountain Pacific Northwest. A skilled and technically educated workforce is needed to maintain this industry and produce quality seed for agriculture and plant restoration. However, talent must frequently be imported and regional educational programs have been inadequate to inform and educate students, youth, and the public as to the impact and importance of seeds and a seed production industry. Moreover, the industry is poorly represented by college graduates from minorities, women, and economically disadvantaged groups.We propose an immersive, integrated research and extension experience for 2nd- and 3rd-year undergraduates from host institutions and regional 2-years colleges to explore the applications of seed microbiology to regional agriculture and habitat restoration. Students from underrepresented groups will be actively recruited. Students in this program may choose from applied research projects in collaboration with regional industry and agencies examining the effects of seed microbes on plant regeneration and an Extension education project designed to raise awareness to seed science and seed production industry among agricultural producers, K-12 youth, and the public.Students will conduct research projects the look at the effect of fungi and bacteria that live inside seeds on seed quality (e.g. wheat seed quality for bread flour) and seed survival and seedling survival in harsh environments (e.g. post-fire revegetation sites); how non-pathogenic seed-associated bacteria and fungi might defend seeds and host plants against pathogen and insect attack; how inexpensive recreational-type drone technology might be adapted to daily use in farm fields and restoration sites for basic pathogen sampling and seedling development monitoring by producers; and how interactions between pollinators and seedborne fungi and bacteria may interact to impact seed quality and seedling survival and pollinator health and survival. Students will also have the opportunity to engage K-12 youth to build awareness of the practical importance of seeds to human survival and the importance of seed science to world ecology.The goal of the Applied Seed Microbiology REEU is to introduce sophomore and junior undergraduates, K-12 youth, and professional and lay audiences to the importance of seed science and seed production and industry toagriculture and natural resources and to explore application of seed microbiology in regenerative agriculture and habitat restoration. Our program seek to build collaborations among research, liberal arts, and community colleges; the agricultural seed industry; and regional habitat restoration professionals and expand our knowledge and understanding of seed science.
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
20%
Applied
60%
Developmental
20%
Goals / Objectives
The overarching goals of the Applied Seed Microbiology REEU is to introduce sophomore and junior undergraduates to the importance of seed science and seed production and industry to agriculture and natural resources and to explore application of seed endophytes in regenerative agriculture and habitat restoration. Program objectives are to 1) provide undergraduate students with an experiential and collaborative research and Extension traineeship; 2) increase knowledge and awareness of agriculture, habitat restoration, seeds, and seed-microbiology and career opportunities in these fields for all participants; 3) build capacity for regional collaborative education and research in seed science, regenerative agriculture, and habitat restoration; and 4) develop seed microbe-based solutions for seed health and disease management that affect regional seed production. Our program will implement lasting collaborations among research, liberal arts, and community colleges; the agricultural seed industry; and regional habitat restoration professionals. Through this program, we will develop tomorrow's agricultural leaders with new technology skills, strong collaboration skills, resourceful data analytical skills and clear communication skills.
Project Methods
Our methods for meeting our goals and objectives will be to actively engage participants and collaborators. 1) Students will participate in either a research project or Extension outreach/education project. We will mentor research track students through the scientific process to develop and test hypotheses, plan and implement experiments to test hypotheses, collect and analyze data appropriately, and present results to professional and casual audiences. Students across program sites will work together to address research questions and provide support for colleagues by exploiting site-specific advantages (access to seed, plant materials, curricula, etc.). Extension track students will learn to work with stakeholders to address applied questions in the field and work with the Extension mentor to develop educational curricula for youth and adult audiences through the process of identifying the need, building the curriculum, and publicizing findings, educational opportunities, and education and outreach events. 2) Research projects that students engage in will specifically address seed science questions as related to seed-microbe interactions. Students will deliver their findings to a wide variety of both professional and lay audiences, youth and adult. They will learn to take complex research questions and findings and deliver them in an informative and educational format, increasing public and stakeholder awareness. Students will have opportunities to tour seed production and processing facilities, learn about industry research, shadow industry researchers, and collaborate on industry questions as well as present their own research to industry groups. They will also visit labs and field sites to get a broad view of seed research, industry, and educational career opportunities. 3) Through working with recruiters at reginal community colleges and four-year colleges and universities, we will seek to build a recruiting pipeline for cross-institutional internship programs and build awareness of outreach and Extension programs and activities. We will also reach out to regional seed production industries to build on current regional research collaborations for greater youth involvement and career recruitment and education piplines. We will likewise work with regional agencies for greater student research and field collaboration opportunities in restoration and regenerative agriculture. 4) We will use applied experimentation to test seed microbe technologies for pre- and post-seeding treatments as seed coat treatments, aerosolized floral and foliar applications, and pollinator-vectored products to improve seed quality, seedling vigor and establishment, and adult plant health and yield. We will also test cost-effective drone technologies for monitoring seed pathogen and seed microbe movement, sampling pathogen ad endophyte drift, tracking seedling responses in-field to seed treatments and revegetation response data for larger areas. We will also develop a youth citizen science program for testing efficacy of a regional seed pathogen against two major insect pests: Mormon cricket and clearwinged grasshopper.