Next seminar and master class in the WEES Series
WEES lecture Thursday 17 June, 2010
E. Toby Kiers
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Evolution of Cooperation in Rhizosphere Mutualisms
Associating with microbes in the rhizosphere can have both costs and benefits for host plants. Because associations generally involve multiple microbial genotypes varying in mutualistic benefit, a potential tragedy of the commons can arise. How do plants maintain cooperation with the most beneficial rhizosphere microbes over the course of evolution? Specific mechanisms may be employed that reduce the fitness benefits to microbes from “cheating”. Sanctions that discriminate among partners based on actual symbiotic performance are a key mechanism in rhizobia and may exist in many rhizosphere mutualisms, including mycorrhizal fungi, root endophytes, and perhaps free-living rhizosphere microbes. However, despite sanctions, less-effective symbionts still persist. The persistence of these less-effective symbionts will be discussed.
See her personal page at the Vrije University Amsterdam.
Time and location
The seminar will start at 16:00 and be followed by drinks
Lecture room C214, Forum building, Droevendaalsesteeg 2
Master class
Before the seminar a Master Class is organized from 13:30 to 15:00 in C107, Forum building, Droevendaalsesteeg 2, Wageningen. The Master Class is organized for interested PhD and MSc students. In the Master Class the attendants have the possibility to meet the speaker of the seminar and have a discussion based on recent papers suggested by the speaker. The Master classes are a good possibility to get acquainted with hot topics in ecology and evolutionary biology and to learn to discuss these topics with leading scientists in the field. MSc students can get credits for the Master Class. Contact bart.nieuwenhuis@wur.nl for registration.
WEES is financially supported by:
