This past summer the Keiser Lab supported my research project, Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi
and Its Effects on Basil Plants. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is known for its main
benefits of stimulating the decomposition of organic matter to allow for increased nutrient
availability, water holding capacity, resistance to stress, and so much more. AMF is becoming
widely considered in agricultural practices to increase crop yields, which inspired our experiment
to determine the effects of AMF on plant growth in the presence or absence of organic matter.
My project focused on two hypotheses: that the treatments with AMF present would show
increased growth due to greater nutrient uptake, compared to the treatment that didn’t have AMF,
and the treatments with organic matter additions would also have improved plant growth due to
more nutrient availability.
I would like to thank Raydaliz Cancel and the entire Keiser lab for providing me with all the
resources and support I needed to be successful this summer. Thank you as well to USDA NIFA,
UMass Amherst, and Grange Scholars for funding my research through the CAFE Summer
Scholars Program.
