3) Dr. Tingting Song

Understanding plant-microbe interactions under drought conditions is essential for enhancing plant resilience. We investigated drought-associated microbial taxa and functions recruited by desert-adapted Brassicaceae species. In a common garden experiment, we analyzed the microbiomes of Brassicaceae species, including three pairs with contrasting drought tolerance, grown in soils collected from three regions differing in precipitation levels (arid, semi-arid, and humid). Plants were subjected to well-watered and water-limiting conditions. Using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and shotgun metagenomics, we identified microbial taxa and genes preferentially enriched under drought stress. Our results highlight specific bacterial taxa consistently associated with drought tolerance across multiple plant hosts, indicating core microbial adaptations. Additionally, we reveal host-specific recruitment patterns of microbial communities, underscoring the influence of plant genotype on microbiome composition under drought conditions. This work contributes to understanding how plant-associated microbiota facilitates survival in arid environments and will assist in identifying drought-associated microbial species and genes within desert plant microbiomes.