Evolutionary ecology of nitrogen-fixing symbioses: theory and application
Plant Biology Seminar Series

Co-sponsored by the Center for Root and Rhizosphere Biology

Abstract:
Plant productivity is fundamentally linked to their interactions with microbial communities. Key among these relationships are symbiotic and associative nitrogen-fixing mutualisms, which represent a model system for understanding interspecies cooperation as well as an important tool to enhance the sustainability of our agricultural systems. While these partnerships are essential for nutrient acquisition, they are governed by complex biological negotiations where both plant and microbe must balance the costs and benefits of cooperation. This presentation will examine the evolutionary, ecological, and genomic forces acting in plant-microbe mutualisms with an emphasis on how potential conflicts are mediated. Understanding these biological negotiations is critical for developing sustainable agricultural strategies that leverage biological nitrogen fixation to enhance crop resilience and soil fertility.

About the Speaker:
Dr. Friesen is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Plant Pathology and Crop and Soil Sciences at Washington State University. She holds a PhD in Population Biology from University of California, Davis and a BSc in Mathematics and Ecology from the University of British Columbia. She is an evolutionary ecologist focusing on plant-microbiome interactions with an emphasis on understanding mutualisms between plants and nitrogen fixing bacteria using a range of observational, experimental, and modeling approaches. Her research goal is to understand fundamental processes acting at molecular, organismal, population/community, and ecosystem scales in order to facilitate biologically-based approaches to sustainable agricultural practices. She co-founded a non-profit, The Science Foundation, with the mission to catalyze discoveries in the mathematical, physical, and biological sciences through a transparent and responsive funding process grounded in public engagement. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, hiking, and meditation.

Contact

  Jesse Lasky
  jrl35@psu.edu