BIOSPAS Project 2 is made up of several work groups whose heterogeneity determines the richness of their interactions. The participants in this project aim at a complex approach to understand the effects that agricultural rotations have on soil biodiversity and function by means of observation and analysis of the Mychorrizae found in roots and of the mycorrhyzal fungi that can only be detected in the soil. This analysis will also involve soil and air-borne pathogenic fungi, and soil meso and macrofauna.

The symbiotic associations of plant roots to mycorrhyzal fungi, play a vital role in the mineral nutrition of vegetables since, by means of the hyphae that colonize soil and rhizosphere, they are involved in the acquisition of essential elements such as P, K, Cu and Zn. Mychorrizae also play an important part in the protection of plants against infectious agents, mainly, root pathogens. In this project our interest will be focused on mycorrhyzal fungi variety, in determining what the percentage of mychorrized roots is and also in quantifying their possible role in abating fungal diseases in extensive cropping.