Projects
Diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in native forest of Azores and their biotechological application
- Ref.º PTDC/AGR-ALI/122152/2010
- National research project
- From 2012 to 2015
Summary
The symbiotic association between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant roots is widespread in nature. However, nothing was known about AMF in Native Forest of Azores archipelago. The main goal of this project is to make the first attempt to study the mycorrhizal community associated to four endemic plants (Juniperus brevifolia, Picconia azorica, Prunnus azorica and Vaccinium cylindraceum) in two islands of Azores – Terceira and São Miguel. For that we aim to:
- Investigate patterns of AMF diversity and distribution in native forest of two Azorean island (Terceira and S. Miguel) associated with the target plant species by spore morphology and molecular methods;
- Establishment of AMF monospecific cultures and production of native inoculum for micropropagated endemics plants inoculation;
- Evaluate the potential of native AMF as inoculum to improve the acclimation and transplantation process of micropropagated endemic plants.
Funding Institution
FCT
Partners
Centre of Biotechnology of Azores (CBA) - University of Azores / FGF (Principal Contractor)
Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE) - University of Coimbra (Helena Freitas)
Instituto Canario de Investigaciones Agrarias (ICIA) (Maria del Carmen Jaimez-Vega)