Research Interests
Plant roots play
host to a wide diversity of fungi. We have a good understanding
of the ecological roles of a few root-inhabiting fungi:
some are pathogens and others, such as mycorrhizal
fungi, are mutualists that benefit host plants (e.g.
through increased uptake of soil nutrients). However,
the ecological roles of many other root-inhabiting
fungi are unexplained. I am researching one such group
of fungi, known as the "dark septate endophytes" (DSE),
which inhabit plant roots without causing symptoms
of disease in their hosts and can have positive effects
on their hosts, but the basis for such benefit is unknown.
One intriguing possibility is that DSE may increase
host defenses against pathogens.
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