Team:KAIT JAPAN

Activation of the symbiosis
between plants and mycorrhizal fungi

About 80% of land plants have symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi. This symbiotic relationship not only strengthens plants resistant to diseases and droughts, but also promotes growth. Therefore, mycorrhizal fungi are expected to be used as agricultural materials. However, in modern agricultures, we use only chemical fertilizers, which doesn’t utilizes the symbiotic relationship between mycorrhizal fungi and plants. Recent studies have shown that mycorrhizal fungi rely on plants for palmitoleic acids and the fatty acid is essential for fungal growth. Therefore, we aimed to construct a bacterium which synthesizes palmitoleic acids.

Sponsor

Our team could not participate in this contest without assistance from these companies. They supported our project expenses such as experimental costs, registration and participation fees. Thanks to all the following sponsors !!

Kanagawa Institute of Technology

Integrated DNA Technologies

Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd