Underground Explorers

The Indus Valley Desert ecosystem of Pakistan is a poorly explored region for belowground fungal diversity. It features sandy plains, stabilized dunes, low rainfall, and extreme environmental conditions. The area supports drought-adapted shrubs, grasses, and sparse vegetation that likely depend on mycorrhizal associations for nutrient uptake, soil stabilization, and survival under water stress. Study sites include the Cholistan Desert and surrounding arid regions of Southern Punjab, including Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan, and Lal Suhanra National Park. These habitats offer strong ecological gradients in vegetation, soil, and moisture, making them suitable for studying fungal community patterns. Soil and root samples will be collected using standardized protocols to assess fungal diversity. ITS sequencing will be used for identification, with SSU and LSU markers when necessary. Illumina sequencing will assess diversity, community composition, and ecological networks, revealing environmental drivers of plant–fungal interactions and supporting conservation of desert fungal biodiversity.