Variovorax: Plant Growth Promoters
ABOUT ME Hi! Thank you for being here. My name is Akshaya Jayakarunakaran. I am a first-generation college student from Sri Lanka. I am a second-year with a major in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology and a minor in Biomedical Research at UCLA. I am currently an undergraduate researcher at the Hirsch lab at UCLA, where we research plant/ environmental biology. INTRODUCTORY VIDEO ABSTRACT A Remedy for our Ailing Soils: Two Variovorax strains with potential for Plant Growth Promotion Chemical fertilizers and pesticides contribute to climate change and environmental pollution and are detrimental to soil and food health. Hence, the need for more sustainable alternatives for plant growth enhancement is vital. Naturally occurring bacteria are known to enhance plant growth and protect them from disease, and thus are a potential replacement for growth-promoting chemical additives. Towards that goal, we are investigating whether V. boronicum