ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL (AM) FUNGI INCREASE HOST-PLANT NUTRIENT AND WATER UPTAKE WHILE ENHANCING SOIL QUALITY, PRESENTING AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS FOOD PRODUCTION CHALLENGES, SUCH AS RESOURCE-USE EFFICIENCY. MY CAREER GOALS INCLUDE DEVELOPINGMYCORRHIZA SMART AGRICULTUREBY EXAMINING HOW PLANT GENETICS, FARM MANAGEMENT, AND SOIL AMENDMENTS INFLUENCE AM FUNGAL ABUNDANCE, DIVERSITY, AND BENEFITS IN AGROECOSYSTEMS. MY PROPOSED RESEARCH AIMS TO IMPROVE OUR UNDERSTANDING AND APPLICATION OF AM SYMBIOSES BY UTILIZINGSORGHUM BICOLOR ASA MODEL CROP. MY EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN LINKS AM SYMBIOSES, PLANT-GENE EXPRESSION, AND AM FUNGAL COMMUNITY COMPOSITION WITH GRAIN YIELD AND NUTRITIONAL QUALITY.
$157,455FY2019National Institute of Food and AgricultureUSDA
Oklahoma State University, Stillwater OK