Department Terrestrial Microbial Ecology

Research of the department of Terrestrial Microbial Ecology (TME) aims to obtain basic knowledge on the ecology, diversity and evolution of soil-borne micro-organisms that are associated with plants and fungi. Main focus is on antagonistic( negative) and mutualistic interactions between bacteria and fungi and between plants and micro-organisms. Therefore, special attention is paid to processes and functions in the mycosphere and rhizosphere.

The following research questions are primarily addressed in the research program of the department:

• What effect do plant roots and fungal hyphae exert on the community composition of plant- and fungal-associated soil microbes and what are the consequences of this selection for the performance of fungi and plants?
• What are the patterns of microbial diversity associated with plants and fungi, and what factors are responsible for the establishment and maintenance of these patterns?
• How do interactions influence the functioning of micro-organisms with special focus on mutualistic, pathogenic and antagonistic micro-organisms?

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