US-India Workshop: Molecular Biology and Biotechnological Applications of Mycorrhizal Fungi

该奖项将使六名美国科学家能够参加美印研讨会：菌根真菌的分子生物学和生物技术应用。密歇根州霍顿市密歇根理工大学的G.K. Podila和新德里贾瓦哈拉尔·尼赫鲁大学（JNU）的Ajit Varma将于2002年12月19日至23日在JNU召开一个研讨会，讨论被称为菌根的土壤真菌对植物的有益作用。目标包括：1)重新评估菌根对植物健康、生长和福祉的重要性，以及2)讨论它们对减少植物病害和使作物生产系统在不大量投入农药或化肥的情况下恢复到可持续性水平的积极影响。在这一重要课题上，全世界正在开发生物多样性和菌根在所有生态系统中的功能的应用技术。范围：本次研讨会旨在提高人们对菌根作用的认识和欣赏。对美国而言，与会者将了解印度菌根生物多样性的可用性及其在该国的潜在应用；对印度来说，利用这类土壤真菌的有用性并对经济发展产生积极影响的潜力很大。对于两国来说，希望这次讨论将为指导农业和林业管理战略的思想和实践提供信息，从而更全面地了解菌根对所有植物健康的重要作用，并促进美国和印度之间更好的科学关系。这项活动由印度科学技术部（DST）在国家科学基金会/DST联合项目下提供支持。

0218398Podila Description: This award will enable participation by six American scientists in the US-India Workshop: Molecular Biology and Biotechnological Applications of Mycorrhizal Fungi. Co-organizers G.K. Podila of Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI and Ajit Varma of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi will convene a workshop at JNU, December 19-23, 2002 to discuss the beneficial effects of the soil fungi known as mycorrhizae on plants. The goals include: 1) a reappraisal of the importance of mycorrhizae to the health, growth and well-being plants, and 2) a discussion of their positive influence on reducing plant disease and returning crop production systems to levels of sustainability without large inputs of pesticides or chemical fertilizers. On this important topic, application technologies are being developed worldwide on biological diversity and the functioning of mycorrhizae in all ecosystems. Scope: This workshop is expected to raise awareness and appreciation of the role of mycorrhizae. For the U.S., the participants will become informed about the availability of mycorrhizal biodiversity from India and its potential applications in this country; for India, there is great potential to harness the usefulness of this type of soil fungi and positively impact economic development. For both countries, it is hoped the discussion will inform the thinking and practices that guide management strategies in agriculture and forestry, result in a more comprehensive view of the important role of mycorrhizae on the well-being of all plants, and foster better scientific relations between the U.S. and India. This activity is supported by the Indian Department of Science & Technology (DST) under the NSF/DST joint program.