Archaeal and Fungal participation in the biogeochemical cycling of novel phosphate sources in NI soils

磷是生物系统的重要组成部分，因为它是DNA和三磷酸腺苷主干的组成部分，活细胞利用三磷酸腺苷进行能量利用和储存。然而，它主要是由磷离子通过磷矿风化提供给生物系统的。天然磷循环存在于地质时间尺度上，不能满足农业生产的需要。因此，磷矿被开采为肥料，到2020年，全球磷肥使用量将达到4800万吨。这种对采矿的依赖（主要在摩洛哥和地缘政治敏感地区）对全球粮食安全构成重大风险，因为“磷峰值”最早可能在2030年达到，届时需求将超过供应。普通肥料导致土壤中磷过量，造成富营养化和毁灭性的生态效应。因此，开发可溶性磷肥的替代品是至关重要的。土壤中90%以上的磷基本上是不可溶的，因为它们以不溶的形式存在，尤其是各种不溶的钙、铁和铝磷酸盐。如果这种不溶性磷可以被植物利用，它将在没有生态风险的情况下调动大量的磷供应，同时减少对商业肥料的依赖。微生物是所有生态系统的基础，因为它们在包括碳、氮和磷在内的基本营养物质的生物地球化学循环中起着核心作用。磷酸盐增溶微生物是那些能够增溶各种不溶性磷酸盐分子的微生物，如钙、铁和磷酸铝。然而，很少有研究利用顽固性磷酸盐来源。甲基营养细菌能够利用高度新颖的磷酸盐最近已被确定，但这还没有证明在其他领域的生命-古细菌和真核生物。因此，本研究项目的重点将是研究某些新型磷酸盐在古细菌和真菌中的利用。-从北爱尔兰土壤中分离出能够利用这些磷酸盐的古细菌和真菌物种。-对分离物进行遗传和生化鉴定，以研究磷酸盐增溶和利用的潜在机制。-北爱尔兰农业土壤中古细菌和真菌甲基化营养的调查。-用农业施肥方法和理化数据描述北爱尔兰农业土壤中古细菌和真菌种群之间的关系。

Phosphorus is an essential component of biological systems as it is integral to the phosphate backbone of DNA and the adenosine triphosphate that living cells utilise for energy use and storage. However, it is predominantly supplied to biological systems from phosphate ions via phosphorite weathering. The natural phosphorus cycle happens over geological timescales and can't meet the demand of agriculture. Phosphate rock is therefore mined for fertilizers, with global usage of phosphate fertilizer at 48 million tons in 2020. This reliance on mining, mainly in Morocco and geopolitically sensitive regions, poses a significant risk to global food security as "peak phosphorus" could be reached as early as 2030, when demand exceeds supply. Common fertilizers lead to excess phosphorus in the soil, causing eutrophication and devastating ecological effects. Thus, the development of alternatives to soluble phosphorus fertilizers is crucial.More than 90% of phosphorus in soil is essentially inaccessible as it exists in insoluble forms, especially various insoluble phosphates of calcium, iron, and aluminium. If this insoluble phosphorus could be made available to plants, it would mobilise a vast phosphorus supply without the ecological risks while reducing reliance on commercial fertilizers. Microorganisms are fundamental to all ecological systems due to their central role in the biogeochemical cycling of essential nutrients including carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Phosphate-solubilising microorganisms are those that are capable of solubilising variably insoluble phosphate molecules such as calcium, iron and aluminium phosphates. However, there has been little investigation into the utilisation of recalcitrant phosphate sources. Methylotrophic bacteria capable of utilising highly novel phosphates have recently been identified, but this has yet to be demonstrated in the other domains of life - Archaea and Eukarya.The focus of this research project will therefore be to investigate the utilisation of certain novel phosphates in archaea and fungi.-Isolation of archaeal and fungal species from Northern Irish soils capable of utilising these phosphates.-Genetic and biochemical characterisation of the isolates to investigate the potential mechanisms of phosphate solubilisation and utilisation.-Investigation of methylotrophy in archaea and fungi in Northern Irish agricultural soils.-Characterise relationships between archaeal and fungal populations in Northern Irish agricultural soils with agricultural fertilisation practices and physiochemical data.