The Tree Root Microbiome Project covers countries where radiata pine grows either naturally or as an introduced species. An international soil sampling initiative is underway: soil data is correlated with related environmental data and DNA information extracted from soil and root micro-organisms. Soil samples are sent from all countries to the Woodwell Climate Research Center, USA, to be analysed, while extracted DNA samples come to Scion.

A team including Scion researchers recently visited the Monterey region of California to collect soil samples from native radiata or ‘Monterey’ pine remnants there. A future trip will visit Mexico, to sample soils in native radiata pine populations in Guadalupe and Cedros Islands

People collecting soil samples around the world use a GPS-linked smartphone app to record the sampling site, and the app then pulls in environmental data for that site. Scientists can then look for links between climate factors – precipitation, temperature, hours of daylight and so on – and soil data, and the microbiome.

The aim is to compare the microbiome data from radiata’s home range with other countries, to see if there is a core microbiome that exists wherever radiata is in the world.