Mitigation of climate change effects on indigenous trees by mycorrhizal symbiosis in Sudanian woodlands: exploring fungi on root tips along a drought gradient in Benin
Clément Teteli
clement.teteli@ugent.be
Promotor: Prof. dr. Mieke Verbeken (UGent)
Copromotor: Prof. Nourou Soulemane Yorou (University of Parakou, Benin)
Grant number BOF: 01W03624
Indigenous trees of tropical Africa , play a key role for ecological balance and local economies, contributing up to 60% of incomes, but face growing threats from climate change, including a projected 30% decline in rainfall by 2050.
Mycorrhizal symbiosis, identified by Frank in 1885, is a key mechanism for forest regeneration and enhancing native tree resilience to climate stress. It is especially important in Afrotropical ecosystems like Miombo forests and Sudanian savannas which are dominated by mycorrhizal symbiotic trees.
Understanding this process is crucial for developing sustainable restoration strategies of this valuable trees. Identifying the composition of mycorrhizal fungi communities associated with these trees is a critical starting point, as only 15% of global mycorrhizal species have been identified with certainty, leaving significant knowledge gaps, particularly in Africa. Existing research in tropical Africa these aspects has mainly focused on ectomycorrhizal fungi through carpophores or endomycorrhizal fungi through soil spores. However, these indirect methods have a high uncertainty rate, exceeding 50%, in confirming their specific association with trees, underscoring the need for more precise approaches. A direct approach, examining the roots where symbiosis forms, combined with DNA sequencing and microscopy, of root tips improves accuracy by up to 95%.
My PhD project aims then to investigate the mycorrhizal symbiosis associated with Isoberlinia doka (ectomycorrhizal) and Pterocarpus erinaceus (endomycorrhizal) along the drought gradient in the Sudanian and Sudanian-Guinean woodlands of Benin, focusing on root tips. I will first determine through root tips the composition of the mycorrhizal fungal community in symbiosis with these tree species using third-generation DNA sequencing techniques. Next, I will characterize the mycorrhizal types and dependence of these tree species along the drought gradient, using microscopic analyses.
Based on the findings, the study will propose recommendations and practical actions to improve the resilience and sustainable management of Isoberlinia doka and Pterocarpus erinaceus in response to various climatic change-induced stress factors.
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