RhizoGrid: Illuminating Spatial Rhizosphere Dynamics

The rhizosphere microbiome directly influences plant health and acclimation to extreme environments, yet plant-microbe interactions in the rhizosphere have proven complex and difficult to study. We present RhizoGrid, a new methodological framework that integrates a 3D-printed pot structure with spatial measurements of root structure, metabollite and taxonomy to detect links between metabolites and microbes along a soil-grown root system. The RhizoGrid identifies microhabitats hidden belowground. Using the food, forage, and bioenergy crop sorghum, we showcase how the RhizoGrid opens new frontiers for exploring the heterogeneity and complexity of interactions between root exudates and microbes in the rhizosphere.