**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** NATURAL PLANTS CAN DEFEND THEMSELVES WITHOUT HUMAN HELP, WHICH THE CROP PLANTS DEPEND ON. WE HYPOTHESIZE THAT THE MICROORGANISMS THAT NATURALLY LIVE WITHIN THEWILD PLANTS ASSIST THEM IN DEFENDING THEMSELVES AGAINST PESTS. IN THIS PROJECT, WE WILL CREATE A LARGE CULTURE COLLECTION OF MICROORGANISMS FROM WILD RELATIVE OF MODERN CORN, CALLED TEOSINTE. THESE ISOLATES WILL BE TESTED TO HAVE BIOCONTROL EFFECT AGAINST PESTS THAT INFEST MODERN CORN.