Mycorrhizal Fungi
Mycorrhizal fungi form symbioses with plant roots, bringing soil nutrients and water to the root in exchange for plant photosynthates.
We are particularly interested in the role of mycorrhizae as a conduit for the transfer of host plant carbon to the soil.
Yeast
The diversity of indigenous yeasts that inhabit vineyards can have important affects on wine quality.
We have been characterizing vineyard yeast communities using next generation sequencing to understand their ecology and potential for use in the local wine industry.
Fungal Endophytes
These are fungi that live asymptomatically within plant tissue, but don’t cause disease. Most of our work has been on the fungal endophytes which live inside the mycorrhizae described above.
We study fungal endophyte communities within mycorrhizal roots, which may have a potential role in root decomposition. We have also characterized fungal endophytes within grapevine leaves as potential biocontrol agents.
Atlantic Root Symbiosis Lab 