Geosiphon and arbuscular mycorrhiza symbioses
More than 80% of all land plants take up most of their needed P (and other nutrients) via an indirect uptake through obligate symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, not by the roots themselves. In exchange, the plant supplies large amounts of photosynthates (as sugars) to the AM fungi, which therefore also represent a globally relevant CO2 sink.
Our group studies the AM and the Geosiphon symbiosis, with a focus on the nutrient transport, evolution and molecular biodiversity of the fungal symbiosis-partners. The AM is a key symbiosis for efficient P-uptake by plants and therefore plays a central role in terrestrial ecosystems. As the global rock phosphate reserves will deplete within the next 50-100 years, it also is of outstanding importance for sustainable agricultural practices. The bidirectional nutrient exchange mainly takes place at the fungus-plant symbiotic interface formed around the finely branched fungal arbuscules (picture) within plant root cells, the name giving structures of the symbiosis. We also study the bacterial endosymbionts of AM fungi.
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