In the period from June 17–19, 2025, the 2nd Annual Conference of the MiCropBiomes COST Action CA22518 was held at the Cyprus University of Technology. Around 60–70 leading experts attended the conference in order to exchange the latest knowledge on plant microbiomes and their resilience to environmental stress. Dr Gordana Racić participated in the conference with a paper entitled “Effects of Trichoderma spp. on gene expression in tomato plants under drought conditions.”
In addition, Dr Gordana Racić, as the co-leader of Working Group 2: “Crop microbiome assembly dynamics under specific environmental conditions,” together with Dr Elodie Genevieve Germaine Vandelle from the University of Verona, led a session focused on understanding how environmental factors influence microbial communities associated with plants. After the scientific program, a Management Committee meeting was held, in which Dr Racić participates as a representative of the Republic of Serbia and IRI TAMIŠ, where strategic discussions and planning for the third year of the MiCropBiomes Action took place.
Direct contact with the latest research on plant–microbial community interactions, as well as networking with international researchers, opens opportunities for future joint projects in the field of sustainable agricultural practices and the influence of microbial communities on plants.
Active participation in this conference significantly strengthens the strategic position of our Institute and its commitment to advancing research in the field of plant microbiomes.