Archaeal and Fungal participation in the biogeochemical cycling of novel phosphate sources in NI soils

Phosphorus is an essential component of biological systems as it is integral to the phosphate backbone of DNA and the adenosine triphosphate that living cells utilise for energy use and storage. However, it is predominantly supplied to biological systems from phosphate ions via phosphorite weathering. The natural phosphorus cycle happens over geological timescales and can't meet the demand of agriculture. Phosphate rock is therefore mined for fertilizers, with global usage of phosphate fertilizer at 48 million tons in 2020. This reliance on mining, mainly in Morocco and geopolitically sensitive regions, poses a significant risk to global food security as "peak phosphorus" could be reached as early as 2030, when demand exceeds supply. Common fertilizers lead to excess phosphorus in the soil, causing eutrophication and devastating ecological effects. Thus, the development of alternatives to soluble phosphorus fertilizers is crucial.

More than 90% of phosphorus in soil is essentially inaccessible as it exists in insoluble forms, especially various insoluble phosphates of calcium, iron, and aluminium. If this insoluble phosphorus could be made available to plants, it would mobilise a vast phosphorus supply without the ecological risks while reducing reliance on commercial fertilizers. Microorganisms are fundamental to all ecological systems due to their central role in the biogeochemical cycling of essential nutrients including carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Phosphate-solubilising microorganisms are those that are capable of solubilising variably insoluble phosphate molecules such as calcium, iron and aluminium phosphates. However, there has been little investigation into the utilisation of recalcitrant phosphate sources. Methylotrophic bacteria capable of utilising highly novel phosphates have recently been identified, but this has yet to be demonstrated in the other domains of life - Archaea and Eukarya.

The focus of this research project will therefore be to investigate the utilisation of certain novel phosphates in archaea and fungi.

-Isolation of archaeal and fungal species from Northern Irish soils capable of utilising these phosphates.
-Genetic and biochemical characterisation of the isolates to investigate the potential mechanisms of phosphate solubilisation and utilisation.
-Investigation of methylotrophy in archaea and fungi in Northern Irish agricultural soils.
-Characterise relationships between archaeal and fungal populations in Northern Irish agricultural soils with agricultural fertilisation practices and physiochemical data.