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Mycorrhizal functioning:

from wilderness to megacities

Mycorrhiza is a natural phenomenon, hidden in most soils of the world and implicated in some of the key biogeochemical cycles in science. Since the beginning of time, it has assisted plants with mineral nutrition and it has received the largest share of plant carbon in return.

Through deep transformations of the entire planet over the last few centuries, humans succeeded in getting a number of the biosphere processes out of balance.

Could the lessons of cooperation in mycorrhizal symbiosis help establish a brighter future for mankind?

This issue, besides the advancements of research on mycorrhizal ecology and function shall be openly discussed, under the overarching theme:

Mycorrhizal functioning: from wilderness to megacities

ICOM 9 CONFERENCE ORGANIZING TEAM

ICOM9 in numbers:

  • 541 participants from 53 countries, 150 registered as students
  • Highest number of participants from USA (60), followed by the Czech Republic (53), Germany and China (37 each), United Kingdom (34), France (31), and Japan (30)
  • 224 talks in 5 plenary sessions, 12 concurrent sessions and 5 workshops
  • 344 posters presented over the entire duration of the conference, 2 attended poster sessions

Conference highlights

High quality science, covering wide range of subjects. The meeting was very successful in attracting both molecular biology/plant physiology and ecology/evolution disciplines

Covering both the traditional and hot topics, emerging technologies and integrative science including mathematical modelling

Very good coverage of various types of mycorrhizal associations from the arbuscular mycorrhiza (incl. Mucoromycotina) through ectomycorrhizal, ericoid, and orchid mycorrhizal types, up to the root endophytes

Gender and geographic balance achieved for both session conveners and the speakers

Demanding program, tight schedule and short speaking slots well balanced with superb catering services and enjoyable social program (welcome mixer, Wines of the World party, conference dinner, each accompanied by special type of music) and mid-conference excursions

Perspectives session – particularly well received overview of achievements over the longer and shorter history of mycorrhizal research, pointing out the need to study older literature, and also providing outlook to the future, stressing the need to collaborate and talk together – and also to become friends more than ever

Twelve prizes awarded to students and early career researchers (5 for oral and 7 for poster presentations)

Many students and young researchers supported financially from the conference budget, as well as by the IMS and the ISME societies

Participants praised the conference for its quality and good organization in spite of significant costs

J. L. Harley Medal

Winner: Lotus Lofgren (USA)

with an oral presentation “Modification of host specificity ‘rules’ in light of forest history: the curious case of host generalism for Suillus subaureus” in the workshop “Specificity in mycorrhizal symbioses: an evolvable trait?”

Barbara Mosse – Laval Université Prize

Winner: Gabriel Smith (USA)

with an oral presentation “Colonization-competition tradeoffs structure ectomycorrhizal diversity” in the session “Modelling of mycorrhizas”

International Mycorrhiza Society Prize

Winner: Carmen Guerrero-Galán (France)

with an oral presentation “Novel functions of fungal TOK channels: putative roles in symbiotic potassium transfer” in the session “Acquisition, assimilation and transport of nutrients and carbon in mycorrhizal symbioses

UMAHARI Award

Winner: Rohan Riley (Australia)

with an oral presentation “Dissecting differential mycorrhizal growth responses with high throughput phenomics” in the session “Emerging technologies to make new discoveries in mycorrhizal physiology and ecology”