Forest microbiology

Last changed: 19 December 2022
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.

A transparent container where pine plants grow. Photo.
We investigare the role of transposable elements in mycorrhizal host specificity by growing pine plants with mycorrhizal fungi in microcosms. Photo: Shahid Mahmood.
Boulders in a forest with patches of snow on the ground. Photo.
Microbes and ectomyccorhizal fungi can weather stones. We investigate how and what impact this has on the ecosystem. Photo: Pixabay.

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

Professor Roger Finlay
Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, SLU
roger.finlay@slu.se, 018-671554