Speaker
Description
Symbiotic relationships are an inevitable part of the existence of all living organisms. Where one may be more beneficial, the other may be very harmful, and in the life of an organism these types of interactions never occur in only one form. As sessile organisms, plants are constantly exposed to mutualistic, commensal, and parasitic interactions, often at the same time. Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam) is one of the most widely cultivated crops in the world, largely due to its nutritional value. However, despite its growing importance in agriculture, I. batatas remains a relatively understudied species. There is a notable lack of research examining the interactions between sweet potatoes and mycorrhizal fungi or pathogens, or the consequences when both occur simultaneously. We aim to use modern analytical and computational techniques to investigate plant metabolomics, including primary and secondary metabolites, volatiles and exudates, in the context of beneficial and pathogenic interactions. Although potentially challenging, studying the combination of these relationships will allow us to see the lifestyle of plants in a more natural context and potentially lead us to more sustainable agricultural practices.
