My research focus on the genetics, biochemistry and cell biology of two symbiotic interactions of plants that can help to achieve higher crop yields with less usage of fertilizers: One is the arbuscular mycorrhizal association that helps the host plant to uptake nutrients from the soil and is especially important for plant acquisition of phosphate and nitrogen. The other is the rhizobial symbiosis that provides a source of nitrogen to the host plant. We propose to use diverse model plants including the monocot Oryza sativa and the eudicot Medicago truncatula to probe the complex genetic networks that underlie AM and rhizobial symbiosis.

In addition, we propose to transfer our knowledge of the symbiosis into agronomical important food crops such as maize, wheat and rice to increase nutrient and water using efficiency, with the aim of boosting the food supply for future generations.