歡迎來到植物與叢枝菌根菌實驗室
磷是植物生存的必需元素，但土壤中可供植物利用的磷卻很少，因此，植物發展出許多適應缺磷逆境的生存方式，例如：提升磷的吸收利用效率，改變根系結構以增加吸收表面積等。在田間操作，農民大多施無機磷肥以維持作物生長，但無機磷酸容易溶於水而流失，流失的營養鹽常造成水體優養化，影響生態。
叢枝菌根菌為絕對共生的真菌，在缺磷逆境中，植物和真菌會透過一連串的化學訊息分子的傳遞進行對話，並開始建立共生關係，菌絲在根的皮層細胞中會特化形成叢枝狀結構，作為養分交換的平台，菌根菌將從土壤裡吸收來的無機磷酸，氮肥及其他營養元素供應給植物，植物則提供光合產物。這種互利共生關係在四百萬年前就已經演化出來，至今已有超過80％的陸生植物可以和叢枝菌生菌形成共生關係來增加營養素的來源，許多研究也指出，形成共生還能提升生物型逆境（病菌和蟲害）及非生物逆境（乾旱、鹽害等）的耐受性。
本實驗室主要探討參與共生關係的訊息分子與作物和真菌間養份交換的機制，以及對作物生長及逆境耐受性的影響；透過不同層面的研究，期望能對作物與菌根菌的共生有更深入的了解，並提升菌根菌應用的效率，以促進作物生產。
Research Interest
Phosphorus is one of essential macroelements. However, the availability of inorganic phosphate, the absorptive form by plants is usually low in soil. Plants have evolved several strategies to adapt the phosphate starvation stress, such as the enhancement of phosphate uptake activity and the modification of root architecture. In the fields, farmers apply fertilizers to promote the growth of crops, but the inorganic mineral nutrients run off easily leading to eutrophication.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis which evolved around 400 million years ago is widely observed in the roots of most land plants. During this association, the highly branched hyphal structure, called arbuscules, is formed in the root cortical cells which provides a platform for nutrient exchange. Fungus provides mineral nutrients, mainly nitrogen and phosphate acquired through the extensive hyphal network to the host plant in exchange of photosynthetic products. Many studies also suggest that formation of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis enhances the abiotic and biotic stress tolerance in plants.
In my lab, we study the regulation of symbiosis and the mechanism of modulating nutrient exchange between fungus and the host plant. We are also interested in exploring the effects of symbiosis on the plant stress responses. Through these studies, we hope to understand the symbiosis and apply arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as the biofertilizer in a more efficient way to promote crop production.