XIEG Holds 22nd Salon for Scientific Exchange

The Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences held the 22nd "Salon for Scientific Exchange" (SSE) on July 8, attracting over 40 researchers and students from both China and abroad.

Professor Marcel van der Heijden delivered a presentation titled "Soil Microbiomes and One Health." He elaborated on the impact of soil/root microbiomes, mycorrhizal fungi and soil biodiversity on soil health, plant yield and ecosystem functioning.

In addition, he also shared microbiome engineering and explored whether it is possible to enhance plant yield and ecosystem sustainability by altering the microbiome and improving soil health. “Field inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has clear potential to enhance plant yield and improve agricultural sustainability,” he concluded.

Following the presentation, participants engaged in discussion on soil microbial diversity, microbiome-soil-plant interactions, and the links between microbiomes and ecosystem functions, among other related topics.

Prof. Marcel van der Heijden is a PIFI Distinguished Scientist at XIEG. He works at the University of Zurich in Switzerland, and his research fields include microbiology, plant science, environmental science, ecology and agronomy. Professor Heijden has published more than 150 papers in Nature, Science, PNAS and other journals, with more than 30,000 citations. 

Prof. Marcel van der Heijden delivers his presentation (Image by LONG Huaping)

Participants of the event (Image by LONG Huaping) 

ZHANG Yuanming, Director of XIEG, conferred the PIFI Distinguished Scientist certificate on Prof. Marcel van der Heijden. (Image by QIAO Jianfang)

Contact

LONG Huaping

Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography

E-mail: longhp@ms.xjb.ac.cn

Web: http://english.egi.cas.cn