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磷酸盐骨架和活细胞用于能量使用和储存的三磷酸腺苷的组成部分。然而，它主要是通过磷块岩风化从磷酸根离子提供给生物系统。磷的自然循环跨越地质时间尺度，不能满足农业生产的需要。因此，磷矿石被开采用于肥料，2020年全球磷肥使用量为4800万吨。这种对采矿的依赖，主要是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”可能早在2030年就达到，届时需求超过供应。普通肥料导致土壤中过量的磷，造成富营养化和破坏性的生态影响。因此，开发可溶性磷肥的替代品至关重要。土壤中90%以上的磷以不溶性形式存在，特别是各种不溶性钙、铁和铝磷酸盐，基本上无法利用。如果这种不溶性磷可以被植物利用，它将动员大量的磷供应，而不会产生生态风险，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、氮和磷在内的必需营养素的生态地球化学循环中起着核心作用。溶解磷酸盐的微生物是能够溶解不溶于水的磷酸盐分子如磷酸钙、磷酸铁和磷酸铝的微生物。然而，很少有调查利用柠檬酸盐的磷酸盐来源。最近已经鉴定出能够利用高度新颖的磷酸盐的甲基营养细菌，但这还有待于在其他生命领域-古生菌和真核生物中得到证实。因此，本研究项目的重点将是研究古生菌和真菌中某些新颖磷酸盐的利用。从能够利用这些磷酸盐的北方爱尔兰土壤中分离古菌和真菌物种。对分离株进行遗传和生化表征，以研究磷酸盐溶解和利用的潜在机制。北方爱尔兰农业土壤中古菌和真菌的甲基营养调查。表征古菌和真菌种群之间的关系，在北方爱尔兰农业土壤与农业施肥的做法和理化数据。

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.