Alder-microbe interactions and adaptations in changing environments.

Frankia属的土壤细菌在自然界中非常重要;据估计，全球15%至25%的固氮可以归因于这些生物。不幸的是，Frankiae及其与桤木根的共生关系的研究包括一些技术上的困难。我正在使用最先进的技术解决这些困难，并以综合的方式进行这项重要的研究。 在接下来的5年里，我们将研究当桤木根部的Frankiae和其他桤木根部居民（共生真菌）与其宿主植物暴露于重金属污染或干旱时如何相互作用。这两种环境压力都存在于桤木生长的地方。迄今为止，我们对它们的生物学和相互作用的基础知识不足，无法有效预测工业活动和全球变暖如何影响它们，也无法充分利用它们的潜力来解决这些相同的环境问题。这些植物-微生物系统的一个重要用途是重新植被受干扰的矿区。这项研究将揭示赤杨在暴露于金属或干旱时，在微生物伴侣的存在下是否以及如何表现得更好。 先进的植物生物学和分子生物学方法将应用于在受控（温室）条件下进行的试验，以及对魁北克省北方金矿、铁矿和锂矿试验种植园的监测。

Soil-dwelling bacteria of genus Frankia are very important in Nature; it is estimated that 15% to 25% of global nitrogen fixation can be attributed to these organisms. Unfortunately, the study of frankiae and their symbiosis with alder roots comprise a number of technical difficulties. I am addressing these difficulties using state-of-the-art techniques, and pursuing this important research in an integrated manner. Over the course of the following 5 years, we will study how frankiae and other alder root inhabitants (symbiotic fungi) from alder roots, interact with their host plant when it is exposed to heavy metal contamination, or drought. Both these environmental stressors are present where alder grow. To date, we have insufficient fundamental knowledge of their biology and interactions to effectively predict how industrial activities and global warming can impact them, nor harness their full potential to adress these same environmental issues. One important use of these plant-microbe systems is the revegetatation of disturbed mine sites. This research will reveal if and how alders fare better in the presence of their microbial partners when exposed to metals or drought. Advanced plant biology and molecular biology methods will be applied in trials conducted in controlled (greenhouse) conditions, and the monitoring of experimental plantations on gold, iron and lithium mine sites in Northern Québec.