Phytophthora cinnamomi causes root rot in Rhododendron species, and it is crucial to study beneficial fungal species in the soil that can combat disease. PhD Student Saliha Ahmad worked on the soil fungal communities involved in suppression of the disease and the enhancement of plant survival. She found a correlation between fungal communities and survival after the addition of live soil. She also found significant effects of Rhododendron species (R2 = 0.13), seasons (R2 = 0.01), and their interaction on fungal communities (R2 = 0.11).

You can read more about her work HERE.