The local desert truffle grows in the Negev desert in symbiosis(mycorrhiza) with its host plant Helianthemum sessiliflorum. We study the fungus to develop it as a new crop.

We study the following topics:

1. The pre-symbiotic signal exchange between three partners(chemotropism) fungus-plant- bacteria.
2. Transcriptome analyses of the fungus and the plant grownunder various conditions leading to different lifestyles of thefungus (Ect/Endo lifestyles).
3. The ecology aspects of living in the desert and symbiosis-mating system, survival, development.

The work is carried at all levels including physiology, molecularbiology, bioinformatics and ecology.
The laboratory is located at Beer-Sheva

The host carrying fruit body of the fungus.