Underground Explorers

Despite the importance of ectomycorrhizal associations in facilitating the mineral uptake of poor soils and improving forest productivity, there is very little interest in them in management programs for tropical forest ecosystems in the Haut-Katanga region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, as the diversity of fungi at the origin of these associations is still unknown. This project will shed light on ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity and establish a list of the region's fungi and their host trees. At the end of the research that will be carried out, we expect different fungal communities depending on the type of forest (Miombo, Muhulu, Mushitu) due to different environmental conditions.