The relevance of mycorrhizal symbiosis in agroecosystems, and its relationship to sugar metabolism
Plant Physiology and Ecophysiology
Many current agricultural practices are problematical, because they are not based on the principle of sustainability: Generally, they neglect the potential benefit of the natural symbiosis of crop plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF).
We are interested in this symbiosis as means to provide the plants with nutrients in a natural sustainable way. We study the diversity and function often plant symbiosis with AMF both in managed agroecosystems and in near-natural meadows, and we have learned that diversity of the belowground AMF community is a key to plant diversity and ecosystem function aboveground.
Carbohydrate exchange plays a key role in the interaction of plants and AMF. Therefore, we are studying two important carbohydrates – fructans and trehalose – both likely to be important not only in the primary metabolism of plants and microbes, but also in their interaction.
Research topics
Biodiversity and evolution of AMF
The AMF-plant symbiosis and sustainable agriculture
Fructan metabolism in plants
Trehalose in plants and fungi
Interdisciplinary
Mycorrhizal symbiosis
Responses of plants and their symbionts to environmental change
Fructans and plant breeding
