Bree Wilson

Dryland salinity and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

There has been minimal research to investigate the deleterious effects of dryland salinity on soil microorganisms such as Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF), considered essential for the establishment and growth of plants.

The aim of Bree’s research is to investigate the diversity of AMF from a saline agricultural field site. Although salinity has reduced the diversity of AMF at this field site, a few species are able to persist, which might suggest that salinity has selected salt-tolerant types to remain in the soil. This information could play an important role in our understanding and management of AMF communities in degraded environments.

Bree’s research falls into the CRC’s Program 2 research area and is related to the Understorey project.