Science Associates / Specialization:
Plant-Soil Feedback
Ana Vanessa Aguilar Paredes
Ana Vanessa Aguilar Paredes
Affiliation
Crop Science Research Center, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna
Location
Pisa, Italia
Research Description
My line of research is arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and soil microorganisms. I am interested in the beneficial relationship between agroecological practices or organic production with ecosystem services of soil microbiology. This knowledge can be applied to protect soil microorganism, promote sustainable agriculture, and increase healthy food.
specializations
biomes
Anna Hopkins
Anna Hopkins
Affiliation
Edith Cowan University
Location
Perth, Western Australia
Research Description
I am a conservation biologist and fungal ecologist, with experience working with soil microbes, plant-fungal-fauna interactions and fungal plant pathogens in both Australasia and Scandinavia. More recent interests include understanding the link between mycorrhizal fungi, fauna conservation and plant ecology, and using eDNA to answer broad ecological and management-based questions.
specializations
biomes
Anne M. Katula
Anne M. Katula
Affiliation
University of Miami
Location
Miami, Florida
Research Description
I study microbial community ecology in the arctic and the tropics. I am most interested in how global change factors drive microbial communities and mycorrhizal fungal traits.
specializations
biomes
Anukool Vaishnav
Anukool Vaishnav
Affiliation
Laboratory of Fungal Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences
Location
Czechia
Research Description
His research focuses on utilizing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and other beneficial soil microbes to enhance plant growth under stress conditions. Currently, Dr. Vaishnav is dedicated to working on multi-kingdom interactions in soil for the recycling of organic nutrients, as well as how AMF may influence these interactions.
specializations
biomes
anukoolv7@gmail.com
Ayooluwa Adebanke Olubode
Ayooluwa Adebanke Olubode
Affiliation
Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. Ogun State
Location
Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
Research Description
I focus on the diversity of soil organisms, biodiversity in agroecosystems, and the influence of microorganisms on soil health and crop productivity, working on plant microbes’ interactions, specifically arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation, drought tolerance, heavy metals, and salinity—Community Structure of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Bioremediation using Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi.
specializations
biomes
BADOU Akotchayé Sylvestre
BADOU Akotchayé Sylvestre
Affiliation
Laboratory of "Tropical Mycology and Plants-Soil Fungi Interactions" ( MyTIPS)
Location
Parakou, Benin
Research Description
My research explores the molecular phylogeny, ecology, and conservation of wild fungi, as well as plant-soil fungal interactions in African tropical forest ecosystems. These studies aim to understand fungal biodiversity and contribute to the sustainable management of forest ecosystems.
specializations
biomes
Boris Rewald
Boris Rewald
Affiliation
Mendelova univerzita v Brně
Location
Czechia
Research Description
I am an ecologist studying plant, mycorrhiza, soil biogeochemical cycling, land use. I work in agricultural and forest production systems as well as urban ecosystems and am particularly interested in a soil biology perspective that combines root traits, mycorrhizal partners and saprotrops / pathogens to improve understanding of the interactions.
specializations
biomes
Catalina Alicia Guerra León
Catalina Alicia Guerra León
Affiliation
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Location
Santiago, Chile
Research Description
Wroking on mycorrhiza control over SOM dynamics in mediterranean forests of Chile. Assessing the impact of increased relative abundance of EcM systems due to pine plantation for timber production and cellulose.
specializations
biomes
Christopher Ngosong
Christopher Ngosong
Affiliation
University of Buea
Location
Buea Cameroon
Research Description
Understanding mycorrhizal ecology and it's implication in agro-ecosystem functioning. Inferring on the effect of farm management practices on mycorrhizal dynamics and productivity.
Re-engineering the rhizosphere microbiome with arbuscular mycorrhiza to improve crop performances. Overall, soil-plant-microbe-insect interactions.
specializations
biomes
Clotilde Nhancale
Clotilde Nhancale
Affiliation
University of Coimbra
Location
Portugal
Research Description
The researcher is focused on providing a baseline data on mycorrhizal diversity and tree growth, to support conservation efforts of Miombo ecosystem in Mount Gorongosa, Mozambique. As this ecosystem has been threatened by climate change and anthropogenic activities, despite its crucial role for biodiversity by providing goods and services.
specializations
biomes
David Johnson
David Johnson
Affiliation
The University of Manchester
Location
Manchester, UK
Research Description
Ecology of mycorrhizal fungi; Plant-soil interactions
specializations
biomes
Eirian Jones
Eirian Jones
Affiliation
Lincoln University
Location
New Zealand
Research Description
My research investigates the ecology of mycorrhizal fungi, identifying the factors which shape their diversity and how they impact the health and productivity of plants. I am particularly interested in the interaction with other microbes (beneficial and detrimental) in the rhizosphere to influence plant health.
specializations
biomes
Emeliane KILADZE
Emeliane KILADZE
Affiliation
Agricultural University of Goergia
Location
Tbilisi, Georgia
Research Description
I am a PhD student studying the influence of ericoid mycorrhizal fungi on blueberry (Vaccinium sp.) plant growth and production through field, glasshouse, and laboratory experiments.
specializations
biomes
Evan Iverson
Evan Iverson
Affiliation
Telluride Environmental Science and Engineering Laboratory
Location
Telluride, Colorado USA
Research Description
I am the founder and director of the Telluride Environmental Science and Engineering Laboratory (TESEL). I am also the Director of Science and Research at the Telluride Institute. My laboratory has a portfolio of ongoing projects focused on environmental biology in alpine and subalpine ecosystems in the San Juan Mountains near Telluride Colorado. Much of my research focuses on complex-systems biology and fungal biodiversity, including a new research initiative to assess mycorrhizal and endophytic fungi in high-elevation fens.
specializations
biomes
Evelin Noelia Sehoane
Evelin Noelia Sehoane
Affiliation
IICAR-CONICET
Location
Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
Research Description
My research focuses on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi within the living soil framework, a systemic approach that allows the conceptualization of edaphic biota relationships in agroecological transition systems. Can AMF help recover soil from degradation caused by industrial agriculture? This is the main biological question that guides my research.
specializations
biomes
Facundo Fioroni
Facundo Fioroni
Affiliation
Instituto de Investigaciones en Recursos Naturales, Agroecología y Desarrollo Rural
Location
San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina
Research Description
I study the effects that changes in soil fertility in native shrublands can have on: the interaction between plants and soil fungi (mycorrhizas and septate endophytes); soil fungal diversity; and the ecosystem services provided by these systems. I also do research on environmentally friendly cultivation strategies.
specializations
biomes
Jack Orebaugh
Jack Orebaugh
Affiliation
Oak Ridge National Lab
Location
United States
Research Description
Investigation of plant~fungal interactions centering around organic matter decomposition, stress response, and disturbance affects utilizing -Omics approaches, spectroscopy, and computational methods. The goal of my work is to understand how plant~fungal interactions impact ecosystem ecology and how we can scale up from lab to ecosystem scale.
specializations
biomes
Jess Rubin
Jess Rubin
Affiliation
MycoEvolve & University of Vermont
Location
United States
Research Description
We restore degraded riparian habitats via replacing nonnative monocultures with native polycultures, investigating the role of endemic mycorrhizae to mitigate phosphorus pollution and increase pollinator habitat while facilitating Abenaki land access and tracking succession through soil and plant surveys accompanied by eco-literacy fostering educational programs in the bioregional community.
specializations
biomes
yepeth@gmail.com
Jordon Tourville
Jordon Tourville
Affiliation
Appalachian Mountain Club
Location
Burlington, Vermont, USA
Research Description
My research focuses on the response of plant and forest communities, particularly in montane systems, to global change drivers. This includes investigating mycorrhizal controls on tree species seedling establishment and distributions, and mycorrhizal-mediated community changes of alpine vegetation in northeastern North America.
specializations
biomes
Juliana Silva Rodrigues Cabral
Juliana Silva Rodrigues Cabral
Affiliation
Universidade de Rio Verde
Location
Rio Verde - Goiás - Brasil
Research Description
I work with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi from the Brazilian Cerrado, evaluating their biodiversity in the Biome and application in large crops and fruit trees. In addition to research focusing on the physiological and biochemical traits of plants when in the presence of these organisms in the face of climate change.
specializations
biomes
jsrcabral@gmail.com
Kenkwo Promise
Kenkwo Promise
Affiliation
Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Nigeria.
Location
Umudike, Nigeria
Research Description
My research focuses on plant-mycorrhizal fungi especially the AMF and their activities in agricultural ecosystems, exploring their potentials as bio control agents for root rot pathogens.
specializations
biomes
Kian Jenab
Kian Jenab
Affiliation
University of Vienna
Location
Vienna, Austria
Research Description
The effect of long-term (>70 years) deficiencies of N, P and K on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, especially in family and exploration-based functional guilds
specializations
biomes
kian.jenab@yahoo.com
Louise Rütting
Louise Rütting
Affiliation
Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg
Location
Germany
Research Description
Overall research question is: how is the plant – soil nitrogen cycle in Montane cloud forest in Peru affected by lack of rain and clouds
1) Are plants and microbes in canopy soil and in ground soil N or P limited ? 2) Does drought by rain removal - decrease or increase gross N mineralization ?
3) and has stronger impact in the epiphytes N uptake than in ground-living herbs ?
specializations
biomes
Marcelo Betancur Agudelo
Marcelo Betancur Agudelo
Affiliation
Universidad de Caldas
Location
Manizales, Colombia
Research Description
Trabajamos diversidad de hongos micorrízicos arbusculares en agroecosistemas cafeteros del departamento de Caldas, Colombia, en conjunto con los cafetaleros y estudiantes universitarios, se espera, conocer la diversidad de micorrizas y su relación con la disponibilidad de fósforo en suelos con alta fijación y altos gastos en insumos de fertilizantes.
specializations
biomes
María del Rosario Lonardi
María del Rosario Lonardi
Affiliation
Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires
Location
CABA, Argentina
Research Description
Evaluamos el rol de la retroalimentación planta-suelo en la persistencia de especies exóticas para analizar las restricciones a la restauración de pastizales pampeanos post-agrícolas.
specializations
biomes
mlonardi@agro.uba.ar
Melina Soledad Piacenza
Melina Soledad Piacenza
Affiliation
Grupo de Estudios Ambientales-Instituto de Matemática Aplicada San Luis (GEA-IMASL)-Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Argentina (UNSL)
Location
San Luis, Argentina
Research Description
I investigate the interaction between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and crops in different agroecosystems. I study how AMF diversity varies according to agricultural practices and how this influences crop growth, aiming to find benefits for sustainable agriculture.
specializations
biomes
Obaiya Utoblo
Obaiya Utoblo
Affiliation
University of Jos
Location
Nigeria
Research Description
My research focuses on improving crops by studying their relationship with the environment, the role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) in crop productivity under optimal and stressed conditions, and exploring ecosystems to identify AMF communities, analyze their diversity, and the effects of climate change on them.
specializations
biomes
Patricia Vaz Jauri
Patricia Vaz Jauri
Affiliation
Universidad de la República, Uruguay
Location
Montevideo, Uruguay
Research Description
I work on microbial ecology, particularly in soils and plants. I am fascinated by how interactions between microorganisms that may be phylogenetically close or quite distant, may participate in shaping the overall health status of a system.
specializations
biomes
Rachel Z Berner
Rachel Z Berner
Affiliation
Washington State University
Location
Richland, Washington
Research Description
The goal of my research is to assess how the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi contribute to plant diversity, soil microbial community function, and how these interactions may be leveraged to benefit the restoration of native habitats threatened by invasive species and environmental stress.
specializations
biomes
Rafaela Araujo Ferreira Gurgel
Rafaela Araujo Ferreira Gurgel
Affiliation
National Institute for Amazonian Research
Location
Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil
Research Description
I research Brazilian fungal diversity, especially in white sand ecosystems (Campinaranas) in the Amazon rainforest, with a focus on ectomycorrhizal fungi.
specializations
biomes
Rafael Morales Astudillo
Rafael Morales Astudillo
Affiliation
Raymi Llacta
Location
Loja Loja Ecuador
Research Description
La investigación esta basada en todos los componentes de la agricultura regenerativa, no solamente las alternativas para recuperar los suelos, si no también las selección de nuevas variedades de plantas adaptadas a estas técnicas, estamos comparando las diferentes técnicas: aplicación de abonos orgánicos, sobretodo basados en bioles, compost y y con microorganismos enriquecedores del suelo: microorganismos de montaña, controladores biológicos: Trichoderma, Bauberia bassiana, Bacillus thuringiensis, micorrizas. Las investigaciones se realizan en terrenos de los campesinos y en terrenos experimentales de Raymi Llacta, sostenida mente estamos realizando cursos de capacitación para agricultores en toda la provincia de Loja, además los resultados están publicados en la revista "Naturaleza" de la casa de la Cultura ecuatoriana núcleo de Loja, así como son expuestos en los "Martes de Naturaleza" de la misma casa de la cultura a donde asisten autoridades, estudiantes y profesores de universidades y colegios así como periodistas. En mi tesis de doctorado de estado trabajamos sobre el poder patógeno de Helminthosporium maydis y las relaciones huesped parásito.
specializations
biomes
Ramona Marasco
Ramona Marasco
Affiliation
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Location
Saudi Arabia, Thuwal
Research Description
With 15 years of research experience in environmental microbiology and microbial ecology, I study microbial communities across the globe to unveil their diversity and functional roles in diverse terrestrial and marine habitats, investigating microbial hotspots and exploring host-microbial interactions in soil, plants and arthropods.
specializations
biomes
Raphael Boussageon
Raphael Boussageon
Affiliation
University of Zürich / Agroscope
Location
Zürich, Switzerland
Research Description
Investigate the functioning of the beneficial interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plants in terms of nutrition in agrosystems.
specializations
biomes
Romuald Oba
Romuald Oba
Affiliation
University of Yaoundé I
Location
Yaoundé, Cameroon
Research Description
Investigation of soil fungi diversity and its impact in plants resilience mechanisms towards climate change.
specializations
biomes
Sara Cazzaniga
Sara Cazzaniga
Affiliation
ETH Zürich
Location
Zürich, Switzerland
Research Description
Investigating the role of soil microbes in ecosystem restoration
specializations
biomes
Sarkal Jyakhwa
Sarkal Jyakhwa
Affiliation
University of Tartu
Location
Oecologicum, Tartu, Estonia
Research Description
Aims of research are (i) to identify how AM fungal diversity changes due to crop rotation and fertilization (ii) to test if indigenous and introduced AM fungi differentially modify host’s root system architecture; (iii) to monitor temporal changes in diversity, and community composition of AM fungi under different agricultural practices.
specializations
biomes
Shaylan Kolodney
Shaylan Kolodney
Affiliation
University of Maryland
Location
Maryland, USA
Research Description
I am a PhD student of agroecology, particularly interested in the relationship between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, switchgrass cultivation practices, and soil carbon sequestration. My research focuses on how we can manage agroecosystems in the face of climate change symptoms, such as saltwater intrusion.
specializations
biomes
Stav Livne Luzon
Stav Livne Luzon
Affiliation
Weizmann Institute of Science
Location
Israel
Research Description
My research focuses on plant and fungal ecology, specifically examining ectomycorrhizal fungal community composition in Semi-arid and Arid forests. I utilize advanced molecular techniques like sequencing and DNA-SIP to study carbon transfer among trees. My work integrates basic ecology with eco-physiological processes, investigating belowground interactions and their impact on ecosystems.
specializations
biomes
stavl@weizmann.ac.il
Stefanie Lutz
Stefanie Lutz
Affiliation
University of Zurich
Location
Zurich, Switzerland
Research Description
My work focuses on optimizing plant-beneficial soil and root microbiomes through both indirect methods, such as identifying and promoting beneficial management practices, and direct methods, including field inoculations. Additionally, I investigate the context-dependencies of field inoculations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and the predictability of their success.
specializations
biomes
stefanie.lutz@uzh.ch
Taylor Bright
Taylor Bright
Affiliation
University of California, Davis
Location
Davis, California, USA
Research Description
I am interested in characterizing fungal biodiversity and function along axes of disturbance using metatranscriptomic approaches, and leveraging my research to inform restoration/conservation initiatives. I am specifically interested in forests and fens of the Sierra Nevada (California) that are in peril due to rapid climactic and hydrological shifts.
specializations
biomes
TEMEGNE NONO Carine
TEMEGNE NONO Carine
Affiliation
Université de Yaoundé I
Location
Yaoundé, Cameroon
Research Description
Nos travaux de recherche visent à résoudre le problème d’insécurité alimentaire par l’optimisation de la production agricole. L’une des solutions est l’utilisation des fertilisants biologiques (champignons mycorhiziens à arbuscules, rhizobia) pour booster la production des cultures, réduire l’utilisation des engrais chimiques tout en valorisant les engrais organiques (compost, vermicompost, etc.).
specializations
biomes
Thapelo Raseepho
Thapelo Raseepho
Affiliation
National University of Lesotho
Location
Roma Lesotho
Research Description
Soil fungus on carbon sequestration
specializations
biomes
Vatsala Koul
Vatsala Koul
Affiliation
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi, India
Location
New Delhi, India
Research Description
I am a Microbial Geneticist, working to unravel plant-microbe interactions in the rhizosphere. Our team has successfully harnessed native, beneficial microbial interactions in soil and developed a functionally advanced Mycorrhiza Biofertilizer. This commercial product exploits the Mycorrhiza and its associated biofilm-forming bacteria to enhance crop yield and soil health .
specializations
biomes
Yamunasri Palanisamy
Yamunasri Palanisamy
Affiliation
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
Location
India
Research Description
I am currently working on the soil microorganisms which influence plant growth and promotion
specializations
biomes
Yazhini Gunasekaran
Yazhini Gunasekaran
Affiliation
Vanavarayar Institute of Agriculture
Location
Tamil Nadu, India
Research Description
My research interests lie at the intersection of soil carbon dynamics, nutrient cycling, and plant-microbe interactions. I aim to elucidate the intricate relationships between soil organic matter, nutrient availability, and microbial communities to enhance our understanding of ecosystem functioning and resilience in the face of environmental change.
