Plant Soil System Ecology

Head:         Dr. Karin Pritsch
Telephone   +49 (0)89 3187-3487
Fax              +49 (0)89 3187-3376
Email           pritsch@helmholtz-muenchen.de

The research group has a specific focus on soil fungi and their interaction with plants and environmental factors. As plants drive the nutrient cycles, we are interested in the effects of plant stress reactions on their mycorrhizae and mycorrhizosphere processes. We focus on forests and agroforestry systems that are of great interest for renewable energy production.
Most plants rely on nutrient and water uptake by root associated fungi. Therefore nutrient and water redistribution by fungi are one central research interest. We are also interested in decomposer communities which not only regulate plant performance and matter cycling but also are part of the soil microbial community that has a potential impact on human health such as several groups of molds also found indoors.