Underground Explorers

This project will explore how mycorrhizal fungi and microbial communities contribute to soil health and carbon/nutrient dynamics across India’s diverse ecosystems. Through soil sampling in the Himalayan forests of Mukhteshwar, the tropical zones of Guwahati, coastal Goa, and urban Delhi, the study will aim to uncover patterns of fungal and microbial diversity shaped by both ecological richness and human impact. Using whole metagenome sequencing (WMS), we will generate high-resolution profiles of soil microbiomes, focusing on taxonomic diversity, functional genes, and their roles in carbon and nutrient cycling. The findings will enhance our understanding of interactions between mycorrhiza and other soil microbes across eco-regions, and will provide evidence-based recommendations for regenerative land management and improved soil health. This project will contribute to SPUN’s global mapping efforts and highlight the ecological intelligence beneath our feet.