Dr. Neha Potnis at Auburn University is testing microorganisms that enhance tomato plant growth and resilience to temperature fluctuations. The goal is to identify beneficial microorganisms by testing their effects on tomato and lettuce plants, using methods like removing individual microorganisms and passing communities through temperature-exposed plants. Expected outcomes include finding microorganisms that improve plant resilience, testing them in larger greenhouse experiments, and addressing challenges like cultivation difficulties and pathogen susceptibility.