Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria) is an overlooked plant native to Southeastern Georgia that has commercial uses like brewing tea. It is well-established that plant-microbial relationships are beneficial for plant health and resilience. Here, I will characterize the bacteria types present in Yaupon Holly roots. DNA was extracted from replicate root samples collected from 36 plants subjected to different nutrient levels and shade regimes at Temples Farm, Metter GA. From the DNA, the bacterial 16S rRNA genes were PCR amplified. Gel electrophoresis was performed to confirm the presence of bacterial DNA. Replicate PCRs from the same plant were pooled for Illumina DNA sequencing. 16S sequences will be analyzed to determine whether the bacterial composition varies with shade and nutrient levels. This will be the first study that examines the Yaupon Holly microbiome. This will provide foundational information that could lead to the development of agricultural probiotics to benefit Yaupon farmers.
