# Postdoctoral Fellowship: PRFB: The Role of Plant Immunity in Driving Maize Microbe-Dependent Heterosis

> **NSF 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · Leuschen-Kohl, Rebecca Lynn (IN) · $270,000

## Abstract

This action funds an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology for FY 2025. The fellowship supports research and training of the fellow that will contribute to biology in innovative ways. Hybrids dominate commercial crop production because crosses between pure lines produce offspring with characteristcs that result in better yields. This phenomenon is called hybrid vigor or heterosis. Heterosis is influenced by various factors, including the microbes (microbiome) that associate with the root tissue, although the exact mechanisms remain unclear. The fellow will use maize pure lines and hybrids to investigate how immune responses to microbes differ between the plants. Immune responses are important for initial recognition of microbes and for plant defense. Learning more about how hybrid immunity plays a role in plant health will inform crop protection strategies and offer new methods for integrating microbiome science into sustainable agriculture. Additionally, this project includes hands-on training of undergraduate students in the interdisciplinary field of plant health, combining elements of microbiology, plant biology, and bioinformatics, to prepare them for future agricultural and biological sciences careers.

Recent studies have highlighted the duality between maize heterosis and soil microbiome composition, where hybrid offspring not only show distinct microbial communities compared to their parents but also exhibit these superior traits dependent on live microbial presence. Hypotheses suggest that microbiota-dependent heterosis may involve inbred immunodeficiency or inbred immunity overreaction. Such hypotheses rely on mechanisms like microbe-triggered immunity (MTI), where pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) detect microbial signatures and initiate defense responses. This project examines the role of the maize microbiome's flagellin-derived signature (flg22) on gene expression and phenotypic outcomes. By comparing immune responses and PRR expression,

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2507640
- **Awardee organization:** Leuschen-Kohl, Rebecca Lynn (IN)
- **PI:** Rebecca L Leuschen-Kohl
- **Primary program:** 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** —
- **Estimated total:** $270,000
- **Funds obligated:** $270,000
- **Transaction type:** Fellowship Award
- **Period:** 08/15/2026 → 07/31/2029

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2507640

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2507640, Postdoctoral Fellowship: PRFB: The Role of Plant Immunity in Driving Maize Microbe-Dependent Heterosis. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-07-15 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2507640. Licensed CC0.

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