Friends to the rescue: using arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to future-proof Australian agriculture

Article

Heuck, Meike Katharina, Birnbaum, Christina and Frew, Adam. 2023. "Friends to the rescue: using arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to future-proof Australian agriculture." Microbiology Australia. 44 (1), pp. 5-8. https://doi.org/10.1071/MA23002

Article Title	Friends to the rescue: using arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to future-proof Australian agriculture
ERA Journal ID	40629
Article Category	Article
Authors	Heuck, Meike Katharina, Birnbaum, Christina and Frew, Adam
Journal Title	Microbiology Australia
Journal Citation	44 (1), pp. 5-8
Number of Pages	4
Year	2023
Publisher	CSIRO Publishing
Place of Publication	Australia
ISSN	1324-4272
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)	https://doi.org/10.1071/MA23002
Web Address (URL)	https://www.publish.csiro.au/ma/MA23002
Abstract	With a rising global population and the challenges of climate change, there is an increasing need to find solutions to maintain crop yields in an ecologically sustainable way. Although many studies have focussed on this issue, comparatively few are conducted in the southern hemisphere. This is worrisome because the geographical and geomorphological conditions within Australia differ greatly from the northern hemisphere. To ensure food security, approaches can rely on conventional agricultural methods as well as commercial arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal inoculants. Both approaches lack the capacity to be successful in the long term or could have unknown negative effects on the naturally occurring microbial communities. We advocate for a sustainable and holistic approach that combines the effective management of functionally diverse AM fungal communities with precision farming techniques while integrating landscape elements into agricultural fields. In addition, landowners and scientists should collaborate and communicate their work with industry and government to take forward the shift to a more-sustainable agriculture. In this way, we will be better able to secure our food production while restoring our soil ecosystems.
Keywords	arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; Australia; conventional agriculture; food security; multifunctionality
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020	310703. Microbial ecology
Byline Affiliations	Western Sydney University
	School of Agriculture and Environmental Science
	Centre for Crop Health

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Waryszak, Pawel, Birnbaum, Christina and Farrer, Emily. 2018. "Extreme salinity fluctuations and invasion by Phragmites australis in wetland ecosystems." 2018 Conference of the Ecological Society of America (ESA 2018). New Orleans, Louisiana, United States 05 - 10 Aug 2018 United States.

Topsoil Stockpiling in Restoration: Impact of Storage Time on Plant Growth and Symbiotic Soil Biota

Birnbaum, Christina, Bradshaw, Laura Elizabeth, Ruthrof, Katinka Xoliswa and Fontaine, Joseph Benjamin. 2017. "Topsoil Stockpiling in Restoration: Impact of Storage Time on Plant Growth and Symbiotic Soil Biota ." Ecological Restoration. 35 (3), pp. 237-245. https://doi.org/10.3368/er.35.3.237

Vegetation dynamics of rapidly declining coastal wetlands: the role of cosmopolitan reed grass Phragmites australis in the Gulf Coast.

Birnbaum, C., Waryszak, P. and Farrer, E.C.. 2017. "Vegetation dynamics of rapidly declining coastal wetlands: the role of cosmopolitan reed grass Phragmites australis in the Gulf Coast." British Ecological Society Annual Meeting 2017. Ghent, Belgium

Vegetation dynamics in rapidly declining Louisiana coastal wetlands: The role of cosmopolitan reed grass Phragmites australis

Birnbaum, Christina, Waryszak, Pawel and Farrer, Emily. 2017. "Vegetation dynamics in rapidly declining Louisiana coastal wetlands: The role of cosmopolitan reed grass Phragmites australis." 2017 Conference of the Ecological Society of America (ESA 2017). Portland, Oregon, United States 06 - 11 Aug 2017 United States.

Nitrogen-fixing bacterial communities in invasive legume nodules and associated soils are similar across introduced and native range populations in Australia

Birnbaum, Christina, Bissett, Andrew, Thrall, Peter H. and Leishman, Michelle R.. 2016. "Nitrogen-fixing bacterial communities in invasive legume nodules and associated soils are similar across introduced and native range populations in Australia ." Journal of Biogeography. 43 (8), pp. 1631-1644. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.12752

Experimental warming alters rhizosphere fungal composition of two dominant shrubs in Mediterranean-type ecosystem

Birnbaum, Christina, Hopkins, Anna, Fontaine, Joe and Enright, Neal. 2016. "Experimental warming alters rhizosphere fungal composition of two dominant shrubs in Mediterranean-type ecosystem." 59th Annual Symposium of the International Association for Vegetation Science (IAVSD 2016). Pirenopolis, Brazil 12 - 17 Jun 2016 Brazil.

Sequential Disturbance Effects of Hailstorm and Fire on Vegetation in a Mediterranean-Type Ecosystem

Gower, K., Fontaine, J.B., Birnbaum, C. and Enright, N.J.. 2015. "Sequential Disturbance Effects of Hailstorm and Fire on Vegetation in a Mediterranean-Type Ecosystem ." Ecosystems. 18 (7), pp. 1121-1134. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-015-9886-5

Regeneration failure threatens persistence of Persoonia elliptica (Proteaceae) in Western Australian jarrah forests

Nield, Andrew P., Monaco, Sophie, Birnbaum, Christina and Enright, Neal J.. 2015. "Regeneration failure threatens persistence of Persoonia elliptica (Proteaceae) in Western Australian jarrah forests ." Plant Ecology. 216 (2), pp. 189-198. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-014-0427-7

Does topsoil age affect plant growth and symbiotic root microbiota?

Birnbaum, Christina, Bradshaw, Laura Elizabeth, Fontaine, Joseph B. and Ruthrof, Katinka Xoliswa. 2015. "Does topsoil age affect plant growth and symbiotic root microbiota?" 2015 Conference of the Ecological Society of Australia (ESA 2015). Adelaide, Australia 29 Nov - 03 Dec 2015

Invasive legumes encounter similar soil fungal communities in their non-native and native ranges in Australia

Birnbaum, Christina, Bissett, Andrew, Thrall, Peter H. and Leishman, Michelle R.. 2014. "Invasive legumes encounter similar soil fungal communities in their non-native and native ranges in Australia ." Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 76, pp. 210-217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2014.05.017

Making nature whole: a history of ecological restoration (The science and practice of ecological restoration series) by William R. Jordan and George M. Lubick

Birnbaum, Christina. 2014. "Making nature whole: a history of ecological restoration (The science and practice of ecological restoration series) by William R. Jordan and George M. Lubick." Ecological Management and Restoration. 15 (3), pp. e11-e11. https://doi.org/10.1111/emr.12122

Do soil microbes drive Acacia species invasion in non-native ranges in Australia?

Birnbaum, Christina and Leishman, Michelle R.. 2014. "Do soil microbes drive Acacia species invasion in non-native ranges in Australia? " 57th Annual Symposium of the International Association for Vegetation Science (IAVSD 2014). Perth, Australia 01 - 05 Sep 2014 Australia.

Do soil microbes matter in plant invasions? A case study from Australia on five acacias and their associated soil microbial communities across non-native and native range populations.

Birnbaum, C.. 2014. "Do soil microbes matter in plant invasions? A case study from Australia on five acacias and their associated soil microbial communities across non-native and native range populations." 4th International Symposium on Weeds and Invasive Plants. Montpellier, France 19 - 23 May 2014

Plant-soil feedbacks do not explain invasion success of Acacia species in introduced range populations in Australia

Birnbaum, C. and Leishman, M. R.. 2013. "Plant-soil feedbacks do not explain invasion success of Acacia species in introduced range populations in Australia ." Biological Invasions. 15 (12), pp. 2609-2625. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-013-0478-z

Specialists or generalists? Nitrogen fixing bacterial communities of invasive acacias in Australia

Birnbaum, Christina, Bissett, Andrew, Thrall, Peter H. and Leishman, Michelle R.. 2013. "Specialists or generalists? Nitrogen fixing bacterial communities of invasive acacias in Australia." 2013 Conference of the Ecological Society of Australia (ESA 2013). Auckland, New Zealand 24 - 29 Nov 2013

NOBANIS – Invasive Alien Species Fact Sheet – Ondatra zibethicus

Birnbaum, Christina. 2013. NOBANIS – Invasive Alien Species Fact Sheet – Ondatra zibethicus. European Network on Invasive Alien Species (NOBANIS).

NOBANIS – Invasive Alien Species Fact Sheet – Neovison vison

Birnbaum, Christina. 2013. NOBANIS – Invasive Alien Species Fact Sheet – Neovison vison. European Network on Invasive Alien Species (NOBANIS).

Mutualisms are not constraining cross-continental invasion success of Acacia species within Australia

Birnbaum, Christina, Barrett, Luke G., Thrall, Peter H. and Leishman, Michelle R.. 2012. "Mutualisms are not constraining cross-continental invasion success of Acacia species within Australia ." Diversity and Distributions. 18 (10), pp. 962-976. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1472-4642.2012.00920.x

Cross-continental study on invasive Acacias in Australia: role of plant-soil feedbacks

Birnbaum, Christina and Leishman, Michelle R.. 2011. "Cross-continental study on invasive Acacias in Australia: role of plant-soil feedbacks." 2011 Conference of the Ecological Society of Australia (ESA 2011). Hobart, Australia 21 - 25 Nov 2011 Ecological Society of Australia.

Role of nitrogen fixing bacteria in the invasion success of Australian Acacias

Birnbaum, Christina, Barrett, Luke G., Thrall, Peter H. and Leishman, Michelle R.. 2011. "Role of nitrogen fixing bacteria in the invasion success of Australian Acacias." 11th International Conference on the Ecology and Management of Alien Plant Invasions (EMAPi 2011). Szombathely, Hungary 30 Aug - 03 Sep 2011 Hungary.

Zippy escapee from fur farms

Birnbaum, Alien Invaders: Invasive Plants and Animals in Europe. 2011. "Zippy escapee from fur farms." Wolfgang Nentwig (ed.) Alien Invaders: Invasive Plants and Animals in Europe. Switzerland. pp. 173-180

NOBANIS–Invasive Alien Species Fact Sheet–Dreissena polymorpha

Birnbaum, Christina. 2011. NOBANIS–Invasive Alien Species Fact Sheet–Dreissena polymorpha. European Network on Invasive Alien Species (NOBANIS).

More is better? Rhizobial abundance and importance in invasion success of Acacias in Australia

Birnbaum, Christina, Thrall, Peter H. and Leishman, Michelle Ruth. 2010. "More is better? Rhizobial abundance and importance in invasion success of Acacias in Australia." 2010 Conference of the Ecological Society of Australia (ESA 2010). Canberra, Australia 06 - 10 Dec 2010 Australia. Ecological Society of Australia.