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Dr. Ricardo A. Herrera Peraza (taxonomy and ecology of mycorrhizae)
Dr. Roberto L. Ferrer (massive production of mycorrhizal inocula)
M.Sc. Eduardo Furrazola (taxonomy and Ecology of AM -arbuscular mycorrhizae-)
M.Sc. Yamir Torres (taxonomy and ecology of AM)
Lic. Rígel Fernández (taxonomy)
M. Sc. María O. Orozco (ecology of AM and related microorganisms)
Dr. Ana Velazco (relationships between AM and diazotrophs)
M.Sc. María J. García (relationships between AM and phosphate solubilizing microorganisms)
M.Sc. Marcia Medina (functional groups of soil microorganisms)
The Department of Biofertilizers dedicate mainly to study arbuscular mycorrhiza and their relationship with soil microorganisms. Glomeromycotan fungi are researched to know their taxonomy (morphology) and ecology (mainly through the characterization of their functioning at the ecosystem level). For taxonomy, a collection of 5000 vouchers (glass slides) is deposited at the HAC (National Cuban Herbarium). Contacts in this sense reach FH (Farlow, Univ. of Harvard), NY (New York Botanical Garden Herbarium), OSC (Oregon State University Herbarium), and INVAM (International Collection of Arbuscular and Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi). Contacts for taxonomy reach also Europe, in Belgium (Drs. Cony Decock and Stéphane Declerck in MUCL, Mycothéque de l'Université Catholique de Louvain), Germany (Dr. Ewald Sieverding, Institute of Plant Production and Agroecology in the Tropics and Subtropics, University of Hohenheim) and Swiszerland (Dr. Fritz Ohel, Univ. of Basil). In Latin America, main contacts are with Dr. Gisela Cuenca (Centro de Ecología, IVIC, Caracas, Venezuela).
For the characterization of mycorrhizal funcioning, used variables are: rootlet phytomass (RAI), % of root hairs, % of mycorrhizal colonization, % of mycorrhizal visual density, endophyte mycomass (ED), external mycelium mycomass (ME), and the ratios ME:ED and ME:RAI.
Also, the populations of main groups of microorganisms are quantified: total heterotrophs, fungi, actynomyctes, cellulolythic, phosphate solubilizing, and diazotrophs. Particular enphasis is payd to those diazotrophs commonly co-habiting the interior of arbuscular mycorrhizal spores.
The lab is equiped for main and simple research with AM and soil microorganisms. 170 m² are available for AM, microbiology, microscopy and other common laboratories in addition to 5 work offices. Autoclaves, ovens, microscopes, etc. are available. Facilities also include Zeiss digital imaging software AxioVision, digital cameras and compound and dissecting microscopes.
e-mail: ecologia.ies@ama.cu
fax: 537-578090