Associate ProfessorMichael Kertesz

Michael Kertesz describes himself as a molecular microbial ecologist, with a particular interest in functional microbial interactions. His research focusses on how bacteria react to changes in their surroundings, especially in soil, compost and rhizosphere environments, and in how they interact with plants and fungi in the region around plant roots (the "rhizosphere"). His research group pursues projects on microbial P and S metabolism in agricultural soils, and on the fungal-microbe interactions that are important in making compost, especially the mushroom compost used to grow button and oyster mushrooms.

Farmers add fertilizers to their soils to maximize crop yield and quality, but bacteria and fungi in the soil are essential in ensuring that these soil nutrients are taken up by plants. Michael's research group has a continuing research program on soil sulfur and phosphorus, two of the major soil nutrients needed by plants and microbes. He studies the key microbial genes needed for sulfur metabolism by soil bacteria, studying their expression in soils, and how they promote sulfur uptake by crop plants. His research group is also exploring soil phosphorus cycling, using functional probes for P-cycle genes to characterize how soil bacteria and fungi interact to mobilize soil phosphorus. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are very important in this process, and Michael's group is studying the communities they form with specific soil bacteria, in collaboration with groups at the University of Hokkaido and the Chinese Agricultural University, Beijing.

Fungal-bacterial interactions are very important in commercial production of button mushrooms. Supported by the Australian Mushroom Growers Association (AMGA) the Kertesz group is conducting detailed molecular studies into the microbial processes needed to produce mushroom compost, and how bacteria and fungi interact to create optimal growth conditions for the button mushroom. This research explores the role of specific organisms in the composting process, developing bio-markers for high quality compost, and examining nitrogen transformations in compost to discover how bacteria can be used to increase the nutrient content of the mushrooms that we eat.

Michael's research aligns with the Faculty of Science Research Strengths - Complex Systems, Understanding Our Planet, Understanding Life on Earth, Biodiversity Conservation, Climate and Environmental Change, Food Security, Sustainability, Healthy Ecosystems, Next Generation Materials.