Kevin Garcia
Assistant Professor
Faculty
3411C Williams Hall
“The research in my laboratory focuses on deciphering the molecular basis of bi-directional nutrient fluxes between plant roots and soil microbes, with a particular emphasis on arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal associations. Mycorrhizal fungi considerably improve nutrition of the host plant. Therefore, it is conceivable that utilizing these natural symbioses will reduce the amount of fertilizers in future agricultural and agroforestry practices. We explore the molecular players participating in nutrient allocation in arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal associations using physiological, biochemical, molecular, genetic, and transcriptomic approaches. Our research contributes to the harnessing of plant-microbe associations to improve nutrient use efficiency and tolerance to global environmental changes in agroecosystems.”
Other Web sites:
Scoop-it webpage: http://www.scoop.it/t/nutrient-transport-in-plants
Twitter account: https://twitter.com/Garcia__Kevin
Publications
- Development of split-root assays for loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seedlings to study ectomycorrhizal symbioses, METHODSX (2023)
- Overexpression of the HcPT1.1 transporter in Hebeloma cylindrosporum alters the phosphorus accumulation of Pinus pinaster and the distribution of HcPT2 in ectomycorrhizae, FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE (2023)
- Secrets of the fungus-specific potassium channel TOK family, TRENDS IN MICROBIOLOGY (2023)
- The putative transporter MtUMAMIT14 participates in nodule formation in Medicago truncatula, SCIENTIFIC REPORTS (2023)
- Cesium could be used as a proxy for potassium in mycorrhizal Medicago truncatula, PLANT SIGNALING & BEHAVIOR (2022)
- Mycorrhiza-mediated potassium transport in Medicago truncatula can be evaluated by using rubidium as a proxy, PLANT SCIENCE (2022)
- NPK fertilizer use in loblolly pine plantations: Who are we really feeding?, FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT (2022)
- Physiological and transcriptomic response of Medicago truncatula to colonization by high- or low-benefit arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, MYCORRHIZA (2022)
- Readily available resources across sites and genotypes result in greater aboveground growth and reduced fine root production in Pinus taeda, FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT (2022)
- Split down the middle: studying arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal symbioses using split-root assays, JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY (2022)