Houf Davina

Predoctoral fellow

In the context of her master dissertation, Davina performed research at the Rhizosphere group on the involvement of germin-like proteins (GLPs) in the establishment of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) symbiosis. This thesis was conducted with the aim of increasing the understanding of plant genes, such as GLPs, in mediating AMF colonization, which in the long term may enhance AMF-induced crop growth benefits, and thereby its agricultural applicability as biofertilizer. In 2023, she began her PhD, focusing on expanding soybean cultivation toward northern latitudes. Her research explores the coexistence of beneficial local Bradyrhizobium species and non-diazotrophic Tardiphaga species within functional soybean nodules, with the goal of determining whether Tardiphaga acts as a symbiotic helper or as a competitive cheater.