Practicals of bioinformatics – Syllabus
Ectomycorrhizal associations in southern temperate forests
Ectomycorrizal (ECM) fungi are beneficial root-symbionts that enhance the uptake of nutrients and water to their plant host, as well as resistance to root diseases, in exchange for a carbon source. The tree family Nothofagaceae forms ECM associations that play key roles for nutrient cycling and forest dynamics i the southern hemisphere. Using specimen-based studies coupled with soil meta-barcoding and enzymatic assays, we are investigating: 1) What is the diversity of ECM fungi associated with Nothofagaceae in Patagonia and Australasia; 2) How these diverse communities influence nutrient cycling and seedling recruitment under various environmental conditions​, in the context of climate change; and 3) Whether the historical biogeography of Nothofagaceae in Southern Gondwana (late Cretaceous) is reflected in these ECM fungal lineages.
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Collaborations
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Matt Smith's Lab at University of Florida
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Selected publications
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Truong et al. (2019) Ectomycorrhizal fungi and soil enzymes exhibit contrasting patterns along elevation gradients in southern Patagonia. New Phytologist 222: 1936-1950.
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Truong et al. (2017) How to know the fungi: combining field inventories and DNA-barcoding to document fungal diversity. New Phytologist 214: 913–919.
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Truong et al. (2017) The Gondwanan connection – Southern temperate Amanita lineages and the description of the first sequestrate species from the Americas. Fungal Biology 121: 638–651.
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Mycorrhizal associations in rock cliffs
Alpine cliffs are among the harshest ecosystems to live in. In the highlands of Central Mexico, the shrub Juniperus monticola is colonizing rock cliffs, with individuals >900 years based on dendrochronological archives. This relict species is notorious for its limited distribution and adaptation to harsh environmental conditions. With the support of National Geographic, we aim to identify the mycorrhizal fungi associated to Juniperus monticola and their role
for the availability of nutrients and soil formation in alpine cliffs.
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Because of their high resistance to water and nutrient stress,
Juniperus species are ideal candidates in reforestation projects. In a
parallel project funded by the Mexican CONACYT, we are evaluating the
potential use of Juniperus for the restoration of highly perturbed areas
affected by mining, and potential plant-soil feedbacks with
other native tree species.
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Collaborations
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Estefania Roldan Nicolau, National Geographic Young Explorer
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Root-associated fungi of tropical plants
More than 90% of plant species form mycorrhizal associations with root-symbiotic fungi, but these associations remain unexplored in many plant lineages, especially from the tropics. In addition, increasing evidence suggest that other fungi such as dark septate endophytes (DSE) are ubiquitous inside plant roots. Potential roles, especially through the interaction with mycorrhizal fungi within the root mycobiome, include plant nutrition and pathogenic defenses, but these functions are still poorly understood.
This project, funded by a PAPIIT grant from UNAM University, aims to identify the root-associated fungi (mycorrhizal and endophytic fungi) of Neotropical plant lineages, using various culture media and meta-barcoding of plant roots. In collaboration with botanists from UNAM, we are using these data to study the evolution of mycorrhizal traits in tropical plant families.
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