Interactions plant-microorganisms

Staff-members involved
U. Behrendt, P. Lentzsch, M. Müller, Th. Müller, B. Münzenberger,
M. Tauschke, A. Ulrich

The plant-microorganism interactions in the phyllosphere and rhizosphere constitute the pivotal link between plant matter production and matter transformations in soil, operating within an extremely complex entity of relationships which so far has not been fully understood. Apart from the kind of the microorganisms and the composition of communities involved, these interactions are, above all, influenced by site conditions, specifically soil and climatic conditions, as well as by the type and intensity of land use. Consequently, the resulting effects prove very diverse. They range from marked inhibition to strong enhancement of plant matter production and matter transformation.

Precise knowledge is required of the interactions between plants and microorganisms and of the inherent structures and functions of the microbial communities as a basis for the optimisation and assessment of land use systems. The studies are focussed on themes with particular agro- and eco-political relevance:

mycorrhiza-plant interaction (ecto- and arbuscular mycorrhiza), Interaction of toxin-producing and antagonistically acting bacteria and fungi with cereals and grasses, Influence of genetically modified plants on microbial communities.

In detail, the individual projects are integrated into ZALF's concept for the development of rural areas, as follows:

Significance of plant matter production and matter transformation in functionally discrete contact zones for the matter balance of landscapes -  Function of root system and mycorrhiza in the nutrient cycle of    disturbed sites (DFG, SFG 565) -  Succession of mycorrhiza diversity (BMBF) -  Phyllosphere microorganisms of trees (BMBF) Patterns in space and time of the functionality and diversity of microbial communities -  Structure, distribution and function of communities of soil organisms    (BMVEL) -  Influence of land use on ecto- and arbuscular mycorrhiza -  Interactions of between land use and toxin-producing pathogenic fungi -  Methods for monitoring transgenic plants during cultivation (BMBF    cross-cutting programme) Development of innovative systems of cultivation, production and management with regard to future frame conditions -  Development of techniques for the establishment of site-specific    ectomycorrhizal fungi on oak (BMBF) -  Baseline study on the microflora of potato plants (UBA/LUA) -  Effect of transgenic fructane potatoes on the associated bacterial and    fungal flora (BMBF) -  Bacterial rhizosphere communities in potato (LUA) -  Methods for monitoring transgenic plants during cultivation    (BMBF cross-cutting programme) -  Microbial toxin contamination in feeds (DFG) -  Microbial, non-chemical control strategy for Verticillium (DBU) -  Model algorithm for optimising protection from soil erosion, mycotoxin    contamination and antagonist potentials against pathogenic fungi    in cereal crop rotations