PhD Thesisstarted in Jan 2011
Ectomycorrhizal signaling
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Biologisch-Pharmazeutische Fakultät
First Supervisor: Prof. Dr. E. Kothe (Institute of Microbiology, FSU)
Co-Supervisor(s): Prof. Dr. W. Boland, Dr. K. Krause (Institute of Microbiology, FSU) Current Research (PhD Thesis):
Interaction of ectomycorrhizal fungi and coniferous trees is a widespread symbiosis in nature known to improve plant growth, especially under stress conditions. So far, however, the molecular processes of communication and physiology are only partly understood.
In the basidiomycete fungus Tricholoma vaccinum in interaction with its compatible plant host spruce (Picea abies), it has been shown that an aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) encoding gene ald1 is specifically expressed. Either detoxification of plant response aldehydes or involvement in phytohormone production (auxin/indole-3-acetic acid, IAA) are possible functions.
With this PhD project offered within IMPRS, it is intended both to get a better inside into the IAA biosynthesis in T. vaccinum and to investigate IAA transport in ectomycorrhizal fungi. Previous studies have elucidated an increased ethanol stress tolerance in this symbiosis attributed to ald1 expression through detoxification of alcohol(s). Host attraction is signaled to insects (e.g. bark beetle, ambrosia beetle) via ethanol, among other substances. At this point, a possible correlation between mycorrhization and host detection of insects could be a key question to understand this tri-trophic interaction. With this study, our understanding of the communication pathways between these three organisms should be expanded, which will radiate also in phytosanitary applications.
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