Presence of AM dikaryosis in a culture collection and its impact on plants

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are essential for plant growth, yet their genetics are very poorly understood. The proposed research aims to identify the genetic identify and symbiotic potential of AMF strains currently cultivated by an industrial partner. The ultimate goal is to determine if a certain AMF genotype can be beneficial to boost the yield of certain crops, or to produce better bio-fertilizers. This work will be done by combining a variety of molecular techniques, including digital droplets and Sanger sequencing. These techniques will be complemented using high-throughput genome Illumina sequencing that require large-scale computation power, which is readily available in the laboratory of Dr. Corradi.

Faculty Supervisor:

Nicolas Corradi

Student:

Vasileios Kokoris

Partner:

Valent Canada

Discipline:

Biology

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

University of Ottawa