Diversity and Activities of Resident Soil Microorganisms: Effects on Soilborne Plant pathogenic Fungi

土壤微生物的多样性和活动：对土传植物病原真菌的影响土壤中含有迄今为止所有陆地生态系统中最大的生物多样性。然而，这种多样性没有得到很好的量化，它与生态系统功能的关系也没有得到很好的理解。在这个项目中，研究人员建议研究土壤微生物的多样性和活性与土壤生物系统稳定性之间的关系。土壤生物系统的稳定性将通过评估两种植物病原真菌--腐霉和立枯丝核菌的活性来衡量。本研究的两个主要问题是：1)土壤微生物的高活性和多样性是否降低了根部病原菌的活性？2)土壤微生物多样性和活性的增加是否增强了土壤生物系统对外来病原菌的抗性？这项研究将促进我们对土壤多样性与土壤生物系统稳定性之间关系的理解。了解土壤微生物对植物病原体的影响也将有助于我们设计更好的做法，在可持续农业系统中减少这些病原体对作物造成的损害。

00-01686HuDiversity and activities of resident soil microorganisms: Effects on soilborne plant pathogenic fungiSoil contains by far the largest biological diversity of all terrestrial ecosystems. However, this diversity is poorly quantified, and its relationship to ecosystem functioning is not well understood. In this project, the investigator proposes to examine the relationships between the diversity and activities of soil microorganisms and stability of soil biological systems. Stability of soil biosystems will be measured by assessing activities of two plant pathogenic fungi, Pythium ultimum and Rhizoctonia solani. Two major questions guide this research: 1) Do high activities and diversity of soil microorganisms reduce activities of root pathogens? 2) Does the increase of diversity and activities of soil microorganisms enhance the resistance of soil biosystems to introduced pathogens? This study will advance our understanding of the relationship between soil diversity and the stability of soil biosystems. Knowledge of the effects of soil microorganisms on plant pathogens will also help us design better practices that reduce crop damage caused by these pathogens in sustainable agricultural systems.