Dr Leonie Luginbuehl

Research Group

Plant Physiology and Symbiosis

Research Overview

My research focuses on understanding and optimising the cost-benefit balance of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, one of the oldest and most widespread symbioses on Earth. This symbiotic relationship provides significant nutritional benefits to plants, however, it is also associated with a substantial carbon cost. I am particularly interested in identifying the molecular mechanisms that allow plants to regulate carbon allocation to mycorrhizal fungi. My aim is to exploit these regulatory mechanisms to engineer plants with optimised resource allocation to mycorrhizal fungi for enhanced nutritional benefits. My research also explores the potential of using the symbiosis to increase carbon sequestration in the soil. To this end, my group uses a combination of different approaches, including carbon tracing, single-cell and whole-tissue transcriptomics, targeted mutagenesis, microscopy imaging, and molecular biology techniques.