Dr. Martina Peter - Personal Homepage

Organisational unit: Forest Dynamics Mycorrhiza Phone: +41 44 7392 288 Fax: +41 44 7392 215 Room: Bi LG B 17 E-Mail: Address: Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL Zürcherstrasse 111 8903 Birmensdorf

Research Focus

Mycorrhiza of Cenococcum geophilum

I am interested in diverse aspects of the symbiotic interaction between forest trees and fungi, the so called ectomycorrhizal symbiosis. I am studying the neutral and functional diversities of mycorrhizal fungi in forests and their role for forest ecosystems in a changing environment. In particular the impact of drought and nitrogen deposition on the community structure and function of mycorrhizal fungi is in my research focus. I am also interested in the role of the genetic variation within host trees in structuring the inter- and intraspecific diversities of associated mycorrhizal fungi. I am mostly using molecular markers to study the neutral diversity of mycorrhizal fungi and both gene expression and enzymatic assays for functional studies. Currently I am involved in three international projects:

• WATER: Influence of the genetic variation within Pinus sylvestris and the site water regime on the neutral and functional diversities of its ectomycorrhizal fungal associate Cenococcum geophilum (genetic and genomic methods; EC-supported Network of Excellence Evoltree; project leader)
• FUNDIV - FUNctional DIVersity. Conserving and exploiting the functional diversity of ectomycorrhizal communities in forest ecosystems (genetic, genomic methods and enzymatic assays; Agence Nationale de la recherche, F)
• Exploring the Genome Diversity of Mycorrhizal Fungi to Unearth Symbiosis Evolution: Whole genome sequencing of up to 25 mycorrhizal fungal species (U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute (DOE JGI), INRA Nancy among others