Hello! If you’re new to this blog series, don’t worry, I am too! I’m Ellie, and I’ve just completed my PhD in Human Geography in LEC. Over the summer, I’ll be working as a Research and Engagement Assistant and taking over this series for the next few months, so great to meet you! The series is all about shining a spotlight on the incredible (and often unsung) work of the research and teaching technicians across FST. Their work and expertise keep the various department’s labs and specialist equipment running smoothly, without which the cutting-edge research we see taking place across campus would not be possible.

I must admit, as a human geographer, I’ve far more familiar (and comfortable) with books and talking to people than lab coats, petri dishes, and chemical solutions. However, it’s good to be pushed outside your comfort zone, so I’m stepping into the inner maze of LEC’s laboratories to see what happens behind the scenes. As such, I was delighted to spend the morning with Rosie Wallis, a research technician within the Centre for Sustainable Soils who gave me a glimpse into her day-to-day work and the absolutely incredible research that is happening right beneath our feet (quite literally!).

And you should totally dig soils. They underpin our food systems, help regulate the climate, and provide a habitat for more than half of all species on Earth. Yet, over a third of the world’s soils are already degraded through pressures such as unsustainable management and rapid environmental change, and this figure could exceed 90% by 2050. This is where Lancaster’s Centre for Sustainable Soils (CSS) come in. They are tackling this global challenge through pioneering research to understand how soils function and how they interact with wider ecosystems.

Rosie is part of a collaborative research project between CSS, the Natural History Museum (which is undeniably pretty cool), and the University of Sheffield. The project focuses on Mycorrhizal fungi, which are a group of microorganisms that form beneficial relationships with plants. Much of the research in this field has focused on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) - and yes, you'll probably have to get used to the long names! These fungi form beneficial partnerships with around 80% of land plant species. But plants don't just associate with AMF. This project explores another group of beneficial soil fungi called Mucoromycotina fine root endophytes, or MFRE for short.

Whilst they may have a long and complicated name, MFRE are some pretty awesome fun-guys that do some pretty awesome things. Rosie explained that these fungi form a symbiotic relationship with plants, which means they exist is a very happy marriage where both sides get something they need. The plant supplies the fungus with sugars produced through photosynthesis, while the fungus helps the plant access vital nutrients from the soil, such as phosphorus and nitrogen – a very successful marriage indeed!

Although there are thousands of different kinds of soil fungi (think of them a bit like dog breeds - lots of variety, all with their own characteristics), MFRE have only recently been recognised as a distinct group. That means there's still a huge amount to learn about them. The team is investigating who these fascinating fungi really are and how they function. The more we learn about these underground marriages, the better we can understand how to improve soil health and even support strategies for adapting to a changing climate. Yes, something so small can really have that big of an impact!

Rosie showed me two plants that are growing in the lab that are forming the fungal-plant relationships with the hope of being able to cultivate MFRE

Having only joined the team in June, Rosie has been thrown straight into researching a group of fungi that scientists are only just beginning to understand - somewhat of a baptism of fire which felt very familiar given it was only my second day on the job too! With such a large, long-term project like this, there’s no shortage of samples to process. That's where Rosie comes in. She helps keep everything running behind the scenes, making sure the team has what they need for upcoming experiments.

Given that MFRE have only recently been recognised as a distinct group of fungi, one of the first steps for Rosie and the team is to collect soil samples from the Hazlerigg field site (just a 10-minute drive from campus for those unfamiliar with Lancaster) to investigate the microbial diversity living there and determine whether MFRE are present.

To show me how this will work in the future, Rosie takes me into what everyone affectionately calls the ‘rainfall lab’, which has stuck around from the days when the space was used by a team researching precipitation. Rosie explains that soil samples will be taken from Hazlerigg and then, in a very Blue Peter moment, she pulls out two soil samples she prepared earlier from the LEC quad. The samples are carefully washed over the sink (as Rosie is pictured doing below) to remove the surrounding soil and leave behind the all-important plant roots. Humorously, Rosie used to work with fungal pathogens within her previous role, so studying beneficial, friendly fungi is a welcome change for her (and one that definitely involves fewer layers of PPE!)

Rosie washing the soil the leave behind the all-important plant roots

Our next stop was the soils lab, where I was handed a rather fetching lilac-coloured lab coat to adorn. The lab was a hive of activity, with researchers working on a whole range of projects and experiments. Rosie starts by cutting the root samples up into smaller pieces, so they are more manageable to handle and examine. Herein begins a three-stage process.

The soils lab!

First, the roots are treated with a clearing solution to remove any pigments, leaving them almost completely white. Next, an acidifying solution is added to prepare the roots for staining. Finally, the samples are stained to reveal any fungal (mycorrhizal) structures. This is where the magic happens. The roots are flooded with a beautifully vibrant blue stain (I'm sure there's a more technical description than ‘pretty blue ink’, but that’s what I’m calling it!). This all happens inside a water bath so that the heat can speed up the processes which would otherwise take hours – not ideal if you are a busy technician!

Once the roots have been stained, they can be stored long-term in petri dishes with lactoglycerol. For immediate examination, the roots are mounted onto microscope slides using the lactoglycerol. A second slide is carefully placed on top, and then in a surprisingly low-tech twist, clear nail polish is applied around the edges to seal everything together. The slides are then placed under a rather impressive-looking microscope that allows Rosie to analyse multiple samples at once. She focuses on the fine roots, since that is where the fungi-plant interactions are most likely to happen. Since the fungal structures were dyed electric blue, Rosie is able to visualise the fungal-plant relationships using three key structures with three very fancy (and somewhat intimidating) names: fungal hyphae (which are structures the fungi form in and around the roots), the arbuscules (the exchange points between the plant and the fungi), and the vesicles (which act as storage structures). By observing these under the microscope, Rosie is able to tell how closely the fungi and plants are working together, which is invaluable data for the team’s research.

The pretty blue ink I was talking about! And the slides as seen under the microscope.

I loved spending the morning shadowing Rosie and learning about the fascinating world of plant–fungus partnerships. It was a poignant reminder that every scientific discovery relies on the busy scuttling around of lab technicians to make it all possible. So, thank you, Rosie, for being the beating heart of research, and I look forward to my next entry into ‘a day in the lab…’.

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