THIS RESEARCH WILL EXPLORE THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN SPECIFIC AGRICULTURAL CROPS AND BENEFICIAL BACTERIA THAT RESIDE WITHIN THE PLANT TISSUES AND PROMOTE THE GROWTH OF THESE CROPS. UNDERSTANDING THESE INTERACTIONS WILL ENABLE FUTURE WORK TO IMPROVE STRAINS SO THAT NATURAL INTERACTIONS CAN BE FURTHER OPTIMIZED WHILE DETRIMENTAL INTERACTIONS CAN BE MINIMIZED. THROUGH MANIPULATION OF THESE STRAINS WE AIM TO LOWER THE COSTS TO FARMERS IN RELATION TO APPLICATION OF NITROGEN FERTILIZER BY ENCOURAGING ADDITIONAL NITROGEN FIXATION THROUGH THE BENEFICIAL BACTERIA. THIS WILL LOWER THE NEED TO APPLY NITROGEN FERTILIZERS AND THE POTENTIAL LOSSES OF THIS NITROGEN TO THE SOILS OR THROUGH RUNOFF THAT MIGRATES TO OUR LAKES AND RIVES RESULTING IN EUTROPHICATION AND UNDESIRED ALGAL AND CYANOBACTERIAL BLOOMS.

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