
Welcome to the Martins' Lab!
Our lab research focuses on investigating the structure and function of bacteria in the phytobiome and their impact on plant health. We are particularly interested in understanding the mechanisms underlying the microbe-microbe and host-microbe interactions leading to increased resilience plants against biotic and abiotic stresses.

Go Gators!
From left to right: Samuel, Sameerika, Toi, Michelle, Roshni, Mason, Fabiano



SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Pasche J (G), Sawlani R (U), Buttros VH (V), Desaeger J, Garret K, SJ Martins. (2025). Underground Guardians: How Collagen and Chitin Amendments Shape Soil Microbiome Structure and Function for Meloidogyne enterolobii Control. doi:10.1186/s40168-025-02132-8. Microbiome, 13:141. doi:10.1186/s40168-025-02132-8
Ketehouli T (G), Pasche J (G), Buttros V (G), Goss E, Martins SJ. (2024). The Underground World of Plant Disease: Rhizosphere Dysbiosis Reduces Aboveground Plant Resistance to Bacterial Leaf Spot and Alters Plant Transcriptome. Environmental Microbiology, 26(7), e16676. doi:10.1111/1462-2920.16676
Ketehouli T (G), Goss E, Ascunce M, Martins SJ. (2024). Metabolic and Physiological Effects of Antibiotic-Induced Dysbiosis in Citrus. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, v.287, p.1-10. doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.117325
Martins SJ, Pasche J (G), HAO Silva (G), Selten G, Savastano N, Abreu LM, Bais H, Garrett K, Kraisitudomsook N, CMJ Pieterse, Cernava T. (2023). The Use of Synthetic Microbial Communities (SynComs) to Improve Plant Health. Phytopathology. 113(8), 1369-1379. doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-01-23-0016-IA
Martins SJ, Trexler RV, Vieira FR, Pecchia J, Kandel P, Hockett K, Bell TH, Bull CT. (2020). Comparing approaches for capturing bacterial assemblages associated with symptomatic (bacterial blotch) and asymptomatic mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) caps. Phytobiomes Journal, v.4, p.90-99. doi:10.1094/PBIOMES-08-19-0044-R