Mycorrhiza is the symbiotic relationship between plants and specialised soil fungi that inhabit their roots. This widespread and ecologically important inter-kingdom interaction involves the exchange of resources, with fungi supplying nutrients and other benefits in return for plant-derived carbon. Mycorrhizal associations are highly complex, and extensive underground networks can connect multiple plants and fungi.
My research examines carbon and nutrient dynamics in plants, focusing on how and to what extent mycorrhizal plants acquire fungal-derived carbon in addition to photosynthetically fixed carbon, as well as the factors that shape this exchange.
Keywords
Mycorrhiza, Arbuscular mycorrhiza, Orchid mycorrhiza, Saprotrophic fungi, Stable Isotopes, Mycoheterotrophy, Mixotroph
Researchinterest
To capture the complexity of fungus-to-plant carbon transfer in nature, I primarily use in situ approaches. My work builds on stable isotope natural abundance methods, complemented by microscopy and DNA metabarcoding approaches, and is expanding towards controlled studies for mechanistic insights.
- Validate evidence for fungus-to-plant carbon transfer in arbuscular mycorrhizal interactions suggested by stable isotope natural abundance studies.
- Explore the prevalence of a fungus-to-plant carbon transfer in woody species, particularly in tropical forests and across different environments.
- Characterize the temporal dynamics of carbon and nutrient exchange between fungi and plants.
Currenttopics
Driven by my deep fascination with plant-fungus interactions, I am part of the MIXOTROPH project at Naturalis. We investigate how plants acquire fungal-derived carbon (mycoheterotrophy) in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis beyond photosynthesis.
Keypublications
- Zahn F.E., Contreras B., Engelbrecht B.M.J., Gebauer G. 2024. Stable isotope analysis indicates partial mycoheterotrophy in arbuscular mycorrhizal woody seedlings in tropical forests. Functional Ecology 38: 2720–2733.
- Merckx V.S.F.T., Gomes S.I.F., Wang D., Verbeek C., Jacquemyn H., Zahn F.E., Gebauer G., Bidartondo, M.I. 2024. Mycoheterotrophy in the wood-wide web. Nature Plants 10: 710–718.
- Zahn F.E., Jiang H., Lee Y.-I., Gebauer G. 2024. Mode of carbon gain and fungal associations of Neuwiedia malipoensis within the evolutionarily early-diverging orchid subfamily Apostasioideae. Annals of Botany 134 (3): 511–520.
- Zahn F.E., Söll E., Chapin T.K., Wang D., Gomes S.I.F., Hynson N.A., Pausch J., Gebauer G. 2023. Novel insights into orchid mycorrhiza functioning from stable isotope signatures of fungal pelotons. New Phytologist 239 (4): 1449–1463.
- Zahn F.E., Lee Y.-I., Gebauer G. 2022. Fungal association and root morphology shift stepwise during ontogenesis of orchid Cremastra appendiculata towards auto/en/wetenschap/vincent-merckx-copy-research-group-leadertrophic nutrition. AoB PLANTS14(3): plac021.
PhDsupervision
Naturalis aims to be a breeding ground for international scientific talent. Therefore, PhD's have a special position in our organisation.
Teachingactivities
To spotlight fungi as an essential yet underappreciated component of biodiversity, I contributed to an interactive branching-scenario course for a science-curious audience exploring their roles in ecosystems and how they are studied. The course is available online (in German language): https://ubtmooc.h5p.com/content/1292715385527067727.
In themedia
Functional Ecologist (Behind the paper) – Beyond photosynthesis: Do understory tropical trees gain carbon from fungi?
UBT aktuell – Fungi Days – celebrating fungi at the Ecological-Botanical Garden Bayreuth.
Naturschutz und Lanschaftsplanung – Reintroduction of rare fungi as a biodiversity conservation experiment in the Bavarian Forest National Park.
Universität Bayreuth – Plants feed on fungi: Isotope analyses provide insights into underground nutrient transfer.
