Blaine Martin

Understanding how native plants adapt to nutrient-limited tropical environments can provide important insights into nutrient acquisition strategies. The conifer family Podocarpaceae is unique in having successfully recolonized tropical closed forests since the rise of angiosperms 60 million years ago and remains an important component of tropical forests worldwide. While podocarps’ flattened needles may enhance photosynthesis under shaded canopies, this does not fully explain their persistent presence on infertile soils across the Neotropics.

Podocarps also possess specialized secondary roots called nodules, which are thought to host arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. However, preliminary research in our lab on Panamanian podocarps has identified a group of fungi in the order Helotiales as common associates. This novel plant–fungal symbiosis provides a valuable system for exploring microbial partnerships that enhance nutrient acquisition in nutrient-poor tropical soils.

My research investigates the root-associated microbial communities of Podocarpus across multiple tropical sites in Panama, examining how fungal and bacterial communities vary within (soil, non-podocarp roots, and podocarp roots) and between sites with differing environmental conditions and podocarp species. I isolate and culture key fungal groups, especially Helotiales and other abundant taxa, to test their effects on root traits and plant growth in factorial greenhouse experiments. Additionally, I plan to explore the host range and nutrient transfer capabilities of these fungi to determine their mycorrhizal status and potential ecological and applied roles. Through this work, I aim to shed light on the functional significance of these novel fungal partnerships in tropical forest ecosystems and increase our understanding of an important clade of tropical plants.