Dr. Adam Frew, Lecturer in Mycorrhizal Ecology, visiting from Western Sydney University, Australia will present his recent research "Shared host, divided interests: Fungal diversity, plant defence, and herbivory".
ABSTRACT: Terrestrial plants have interacted with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi for more than 450 million years, and today most plants still form symbiosis with these fungi. Fundamentally the symbiosis is based on the transfer of resources, of which significant focus is given to nutritional benefits for the host. Yet the AM symbiosis has many effects on their host plants beyond increased access to nutrients, one of which is defences against pathogens and herbivores. In this talk I will explore how the AM symbiosis can affect plant interactions with insect herbivores, the importance of diversity, and how herbivory can affect communities of AM fungi within plant roots.
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