Dr. Martina Peter

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 how forest fungi adapt to their environment and lifestyle. I am mostly using molecular markers to study the communities and populations of mycorrhizal fungi and both gene expression and enzymatic assays for functional studies.