Current RESEARCH projects

Benefits from AMF symbiosis is dependent of plant-mycorrhiza-soil interaction. We investigate rice varieties and soil types from southern Thailand that obtain maximum benefits from Acaulospora morrowie, the first cultured AMF in our lab. We analyze mycorrhizal benefits in rice based on growth performance, nutrient accumulation, efficiency of photosynthesis, yield productivity and yield quality. Furthermore, we aim to characterize the effect of A. morrowie on rice stress tolerances such as drought and salt stresses which are the major problems in rice production especially in rain-fed rice cultivation.

AMF symbiosis is pivotal for plants to grow in nutrient-poor environments and plays a critical role in sustaining plant productivity across a wide range of ecosystems. Indigenous AMF from agroecosystems in tropical rain forests are particularly valuable biological resources for agricultural applications, especially in the production of AMF biofertilizers. We use ITS2 amplicon sequencing to study AMF community composition in these ecosystems, and identify AMF species by their 1.5 kb SSU-ITS-LSU sequences. Soil samples potentially containing AMF spores are collected and subjected to AMF spore propagation by trap culture in the greenhouse. Our current research focuses on AMF communities associated with agroecosystems embedded within tropical rain forests, where the interplay between land use and native AMF diversity offers promising avenues for sustainable agricultural development. 

Plants growing in phosphorus-limited soils undergo profound physiological, metabolic, and molecular changes long before visible deficiency symptoms appear. Understanding these early and asymptomatic responses is critical for developing strategies to improve crop resilience and productivity. Using transcriptomics, metabolomics, and hyperspectral imaging, I characterize how staple crops such as rice and maize adapt to phosphorus deficiency, with the ultimate goal of advancing sustainable and efficient agricultural management in tropical environments.