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Plant Disease Ecology
Ecological Genomics
Biodiversity Resource Science



Pyrosequencing to characterize changes in soil microbial communities associated with tropical soil degradation

This project began in 2008 and is a cross-cutting initiative in collaboration with three SANREM LTRAs.

These projects are supported by the USAID SANREM CRSP

In the Bolivian altiplano, we have evaluted the effect of fallow period on microbial communities, finding a number of fungal and bacterial taxa that increase or decrease in frequency as fallow periods vary from 1 to 30 years in length. The poster listed below (Gomez et al. 2011) gives more information about this project.

We are also evaluating the effects of soil quality in lower elevations of Bolivia (Salaues et al., in preparation) and the effects of soil management in Zambia.

Collaborators on these projects include:

Jeff Alwang, Virginia Tech
Jorge Cusicanqui, UMSA
Jose Castillo, PROINPA
Karen Garrett, Kansas State University
Lydiah Gatere, Cornell University
Jere Gilles, University of Missouri
Lorena Gomez-Montano, Kansas State University
Mike Herman, Kansas State University
Ari Jumpponen, Kansas State University
Johannes Lehmann, Cornell University
Peter Motavalli, University of Missouri
Neshmi Salaues, PROINPA
Corinne Valdivia, University of Missouri

Relevant Publications

Gomez et al. 2011. Fungal and bacterial community responses to fallow period in the Bolivian Highlands. American Phytopathological Society meeting poster.

Gomez et al. 2010. Soil microbial community responses to farm management strategies in Zambia.


Kansas State University

Department of Plant Pathology

Ecological Genomics Institute


PI: Karen A. Garrett