Svenja Hermanns

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi live in symbiosis with most land plants by delivering rare nutrients like phosphate to the host. In return, the fungi receive carbon sources like sugars and fatty acids generated by the host plant during photosynthesis. The aim of my research is to unravel the details of AM symbiosis nutrient exchange by rebuilding the system. I try to establish a synthetic obligate symbiosis between Arabidopsis thaliana and the non-AM fungus Colletotrichum tofieldiae.