TY  - CONF
AU  - Heck, Anna
AU  - Schnepf, Andrea
AU  - Pagel, Holger
TI  - Mathematical Modelling of the Soil-Root-Mycorrhiza System
M1  - FZJ-2026-01626
PY  - 2025
AB  - Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are widespread symbiotic partners of mostterrestrial plants and form close associations with their roots. While their role inenhancing nutrient uptake, particularly phosphorus, has been well studied, their effectson soil structure and plant water uptake have not been studied as broadly.We have developed a model describing AMF colonization and the growth of extraradicalmycelium in the soil, with a particular focus on their impact on plant drought tolerance.Plants in symbiosis with AMF have been observed to extend their root system to largersoil volumes and under nutrient limiting conditions AMF facilitate nutrient uptake. Weexplore how AMF change the root surrounding soil and how this aides root growth.Additionally, we observe how the modified soil affects water uptake as it has beensuggested that AMF hyphae do not contribute significantly to water uptake.The model is an extension of CPlantBox, a structural-functional model for water andcarbon processes at the whole-plant level. By integrating AMF infection, in silicoinvestigation of the interaction between plant fungi and soil under varying environmentalconditions becomes possible.Model parameterization is based on experimental data from project partners. Thisincludes information on root architecture, spatial distribution of root length density inthe soil, and AMF infection rates and locations in tomato plants. The plants were grownin sandy and loamy soils under both drought and well-watered conditions. Two differentAMF species were used to reflect variation in symbiotic efficiency and fungaldevelopment.The model will be used to assess the contribution of AMF to plant water uptake,especially under drought conditions. The objective is to improve our understanding ofhow AMF contribute to plant resilience in changing soil and climate environments.
T2  - Rhizosphere 6
CY  - 15 Jun 2025 - 19 Jun 2025, Edinburgh (UK)
Y2  - 15 Jun 2025 - 19 Jun 2025
M2  - Edinburgh, UK
LB  - PUB:(DE-HGF)1
UR  - https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/1053949
ER  -