Dr. Sharon Doty at the University of Washington is one of the world\u2019s leading experts on endophytes \u2014 the tiny microbes that live inside of plant tissues and play a vital role in plant health and nutrient\u00a0acquisition.<\/p>\n
Dr. Doty was intrigued when she came across poplar and willow trees growing along the banks of glacial melt rivers in the Pacific Northwest. The resilient trees grow in unusually harsh conditions \u2014 the soil is rocky, sandy, and lacks nutrients. She extensively studied microbes from these trees to understand how they flourished in such harsh conditions.<\/p>\n
Dr. Doty spent the decades that followed researching these endophytes and their unique properties and benefits, including nutrient use efficiency and abiotic stress tolerance.<\/p>\n
She has published dozens of articles in leading academic journals on this topic and wrote the definitive book on endophytes,\u00a0Functional Importance of the Plant Microbiome<\/em><\/a>. Her research, including detailed genomic analysis, shows that these endophytes contain a gene associated with atmospheric nitrogen fixation. Fluorescent imaging confirms that the endophytes colonize the inside of plant roots and shoots.<\/p>\n Intrinsyx Bio has an exclusive license to commercialize the naturally occurring endophytes discovered by Dr. Doty and is actively developing commercial products that are proven to improve nutrient uptake and overall plant health.<\/p>\n
\nUniversity of Washington\u2019s Doty Plant Microbiology Lab<\/h2>\n