Mw.drs. R. Landeweert : Detection of fungi in soil

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6 Jun 2003 16:00
Unit: Wageningen University
Location: Aula (gebouw 362), Gen. Foulkesweg 1, Wageningen
Website: http://www.dow.wau.nl/soil_quality/
Promotor: prof.dr. L. Brussaard (Soil Biology and Biological Soil Quality)
Co Promotor: dr. th. W. Kuyper, dr. E. Smit (RIVM)

 Novel molecular techniques enable detailed detection of symbiotic soil fungi. Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EM fungi) are symbiotic fungi that live together with the roots of mainly trees and woody perennials. The mycelium, a below ground network of hyphae, facilitates the transport of water and nutrients to the roots. Differences in amount and organisation of the mycelium produced by individual species may reflect the different ecological roles that fungi have in ecosystems. In co-operation with the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment molecular methods were developed to directly detect, identify and quantify mycelium of EM fungi in soil. These methods were then used to study the vertical distribution of EM fungi in a Swedish soil profile. Being independent of the fungal morphology, the molecular methods provide a new view on the population of EM fungi below ground.
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