Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is an ancient and widespread relationship between most plant species on Earth (including agricultural crops such as wheat, maize, rice, beans, potatoes, etc.) and specific soil fungi that colonize and connect plant roots and the surrounding soil, thus providing a direct transport and communication channel between these very different environments. In particular, our research group studies the ecology of AM fungi in the soil environment, the role of AM symbiosis in soil stabilization and agricultural productivity, and the fluxes of mineral nutrients, water, and carbon between the atmosphere, plants, and soil environment. It also addresses the molecular characterization of microbial communities affected by mycorrhizal fungal activity and the cultivation of microbes from the rhizosphere and hyposphere to understand the complex processes of organic nutrient recycling and efficiency of plant utilization.
The ecology of AM fungi in the soil environment
In particular, our research group studies the ecology of AM fungi in the soil environment, the role of AM symbiosis in soil stabilization and agricultural productivity, and the fluxes of mineral nutrients, water, and carbon between the atmosphere, plants, and soil environment. It also addresses the molecular characterization of microbial communities affected by mycorrhizal fungal activity and the cultivation of microbes from the rhizosphere and hyposphere to understand the complex processes of organic nutrient recycling and efficiency of plant utilization.
Main objectives of our work are:
- To understand the ecology of AM fungi in heterogeneous environments with a particular focus on hyphae-associating microorganisms.
- To understand the contribution of mycorrhizal fungi and other soil microbes to soil stabilization and functioning, ecosystem resilience and (agro)ecosystem productivity.
- To quantify the fluxes of mineral nutrients and water from soil to plants and carbon from plants to soil (primarily using isotope labelling), with particular reference to the role of mycorrhizal fungi, their hyphae networks and other soil microbes including nitrifying bacteria and archaea, and eukaryotic soil microbes, especially protists.
