| title: | Methodology for the investigation of quantitative dynamics of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization of boreo-nemoral forest understorey plant species |
|---|---|
| reg no: | ETF6533 |
| project type: | Estonian Science Foundation research grant |
| status: | accepted |
| institution: | University of Tartu |
| head of project: | Maarja Öpik |
| duration: | 01.01.2005 - 31.12.2008 |
| description: | Natural communities of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are known to be functionally diverse and to vary both in time and space. AM fungi as widespread root symbionts are have essential determiners of plant community structure; however, information is scarce regarding their quantitative dynamics in the nature. This project intends to develop a method for molecular quantification of AM fungi based on real-time PCR; this method would allow concurrent identification of fungi in the same sample and estimation of their relative abundance in plant roots. The optimized methodology will be applied to describe the spatial and temporal quantitative dynamics of the AM fungal communities associated with a boreo-nemoral forest understorey plants. Manipulative experiments will be lead to test the effect of plant and fungus combination, both originating from the same forest site, on performance of symbiotic partners, including AM colonization, in one-to-one combinations and in conditionsof competition. The methodology developed as a result of the project is expected to find wide use by mycorrhiza researchers. The information obtained through the project will further the understanding on the structure and dynamics of the natural communities of AM fungi and on their distribution. The AM fungal isolates obtained in the project comprise an important contribution to the international culture collections of AM fungi, where boreal zone and natural (untouched) communities are poorly represented. These are also extremely important material for functional research in the future as well as for commercial inoculum development with applications in agriculture, ornamental plant production and landscaping. |
| project group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| no | name | institution | position | |
| 1. | Ülle Saks | University of Tartu | PhD student | |
| 2. | Maarja Öpik | University of Tartu | research fellow | |