MITIGATING IMPACTS OF ANTIBIOTIC APPLICATION ON CITRUS PLANTS BY THE USE OF NATIVE BACTERIAL COMMUNITIES FOR A SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

The long-term goal is to develop foundational knowledge and applied tools for deployment of integrated microbiological supplementation as an integrated and sustainable approach to mitigate the negative impacts of antibiotic application. Additionally, we will increase awareness of antibiotic application in agricultural plants by educating undergraduate students and secondary school teachers on antimicrobial use in food crops.This long-term goal will be accomplished by the following objectives:1. Assess the impact of antibiotic application on citrus-associated bacterial community, antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB), metabolites and physiology of citrus trees relative to untreated trees.2. Determine how supplemented microbial diversity affects antibiotic resistant bacteria associated with citrus and plant health.3. Educate undergraduate students and secondary school teachers on antimicrobial resistance across the food chain, including consequences and strategies for mitigating antimicrobial resistance.