Mycorrhizal desert truffles and CAM plants physiology

The lab aims at the practical level, to develop new crops for arid zones desert truffles and cacti. The scientific work involves studying desert truffles mycorrhizal interaction with their host plants. Including the physiology of Terfezia boudieri, the lifestyle of the fungus as ecto-mycorrhiza and endo-mycorrhiza, the mycorrhiza-host plant interactions, mycorrhized plants physiology, biome of both partners and beneficial activities of soil bacteria for both. We study prickly pear and other cacti at the physiological and molecular levels to understand the mechanisms controlling stomatal regulation in CAM plants. Another project is characterization of pharmaceutical activities in byproducts of prickly pear fruits.