EuAsiaN-ROOT

Forests play a vital role in providing ecosystem services. To enhance soil literacy and develop effective conservation policies, it is crucial to advance scientific understanding of the relationships between soil, roots, fungi, and pathogens within forest ecosystems. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the EuAsiaN-ROOT project will study these relationships across the Eurasian climate spectrum. It will characterise the soil fungal community, investigate the fine root characteristics of forest trees, and analyse the contributions of mycorrhizal fungi to ecosystem services. Additionally, it will assess the impacts of climate, soil conditions, and soil-borne root pathogens on these contributions, identify the roles of tree fine roots and mycorrhizal fungi in ecosystem services, and provide comprehensive training.

EuAsiaN-ROOT aims to unravel the complex relationships between soil, roots, fungi and pathogens within forest ecosystems. Focusing on forests across the Eurasian climate spectrum, from tropical to highly continental, it will characterise the soil fungal community and mycorrhizal fungi in both roots and soils of these diverse forests. It will also investigate the fine root characteristics of forest trees and key interactions between soils, roots, mycorrhizal fungi and pathogens. It will investigate how mycorrhizal fungi associated with trees in different forest types contribute to ecosystem services such as nutrient acquisition and carbon sequestration and how these contributions are influenced by climate, soil conditions and the unique pressures exerted by soil-borne root pathogens. Through comparative analysis across forest biomes, it aims to identify the respective roles of tree fine roots and mycorrhizal fungi in the provision of ecosystem services. It is essential to identify both abiotic and biotic pressures, particularly soil pathogens, that affect the provision of these services by tree fine roots and other types of mycorrhizal fungi. EuAsiaN-ROOT research will advance scientific understanding and serve as a platform for personal and institutional development and training. EuAsiaN-ROOT's comprehensive training programme, facilitated by secondments, will equip participants with cutting-edge knowledge methodologies, dissemination strategies and insights into policy applications. Recognising the importance of dissemination and communication, we aim to increase soil literacy through practical outreach activities. EuAsiaN-ROOT is interdisciplinary, covering aspects of geology, soil science, forest ecology, forestry and nature conservation. EuAsiaN-ROOT is international, with partners from the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Thailand. EuAsiaN-ROOT is multisectoral, involving partners from the academic sector and the regional nature park.