Forest microbiology

Last changed: 08 February 2023
A person crouches in woodland and holds moss in their hands. Photo.

We focus on the biology, evolution and ecology of symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi, fungal and bacterial roles in biogeochemical cycling and mineral weathering, organic matter degradation and carbon sequestration.

We also focus on fundamental and applied aspects of extremophilic microbial consortia and their interactions with plants. Interactions of ectomycorrhizal fungi with bacteria and saprotrophic and pathogenic fungi are also studied. Other research areas include microbial bioremediation, and diversity and molecular evolution of fungi.

Examples of projects

  • The role of transposable elements in mycorrhizal host specificity
  • The moss microbiome as a mediator of forest nitrogen and carbon cycling
  • Base cation transporters and regulation of biological weathering in ectomycorrhizal fungi
  • Microbially mediated weathering of silicate minerals and carbon sequestration
  • Characterising rhizosphere microbiome attributes influencing plant nutrition and desiccation tolerance, to expand the potential of modern plant-breeding lines

The research group

See all researchers in the Forest Microbiology group.

 

 


Contact

Paul Kardol
Professor in Microbial Ecology
Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, SLU
paul.kardol@slu.se