CONTRIBUTION OF MYCORRHIZAE TO THE SUSTAINABILITY OF MARGINAL MEDITERRANEAN ECOSYSTEMS - DEVELOPMENT OF MYCORRHIZAL INOCULA

Background: Mycorrhizal fungi (MF) develop symbiotic relationships with most plants and often lead to improved plant growth and stress tolerance in marginal soil ecosystems. The development and introduction of inocula derived from indigenous MF has led to improved sustainability and productivity in marginal ecosystems in the Mediterranean basin. Although salt/water stressed ecosystems are typical of the Greek landscape, the composition and phylogeny of indigenous MF communities and their functional role have been poorly studied. 

State of the art molecular tools combined with expertise in applied ecology, plant inoculation and screening and the use of physiological/biochemical markers of osmotic stress will allow:

• the analysis of local MF communities,
• the isolation of specific competitive MF leading to optimal plant performance under osmotic stress and
• the production of the respective mycorrhizal inocula.

Expected results:

1. Biodiversity and phylogeny of mycorrhizal fungi associated with key plants of sand dunes and semi-arid degraded costal areas of Greece.
2. Variability between plants, ecosystems and seasons.
3. Contribution of AM fungi to osmotic stress tolerance mechanisms involved.
4. Potential role of mycorrhizal fungi at the ecosystem level.
5. Isolation of optimal AM fungi for overcoming osmotic stress production of inocula.

Workpakages:

1. Description and analysis of ecosystems.
2. Diversity and phylogeny of mycorrhizal fungal communities.
3. Effects of mixed (soil) inocula to selected plants under controlled conditions.
4. Development and evaluation of selected inocula.
5. Coordination and management.
6. Diffusion of results.

SALTYMYC / 380233