// Definition
The study of the complete ionome (all ions and elemental composition) of an organism, used to understand how mineral and heavy metal levels correlate with plant health, pathogen susceptibility, and genetic expression.
// From the Episode
Brandon Rust's research with Cove Environmental and Medicinal Genomics found that alternaria-infected plants had higher levels of chromium and vanadium (heavy metals), suggesting pathogens may use heavy metals for electron transport. Overfertilization of nitrogen is a known driver of increased pathogen and insect pressure.