412: Carbon Concentration Complicates Crop Cooperation

This episode: Looking at the effects of almost doubling CO2
concentrations on the interaction between wheat varieties and
beneficial fungi!


Download Episode (8.1 MB, 11.8 minutes)

Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Lato River virus

News item

Takeaways
As the world's population grows, feeding everyone will grow more
challenging. Advances in technology in the past have made today's
population possible, but future advances may be needed,
especially in the face of an increasing concentration of carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere.

Soil microbes that partner with crop plants for the benefit of
each may be part of the solution. One option to explore is a
group called mycorrhizal fungi, which associate with plant roots
to extend their nutrient-gathering ability, in exchange for
carbon compounds produced by photosynthesis. This study examined
the influence of increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere on
the interaction of several varieties of wheat with these
fungi.

Journal Paper:
Thirkell TJ, Pastok D, Field KJ. Carbon for nutrient exchange
between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and wheat varies according
to cultivar and changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide
concentration. Glob Change Biol.


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