Yulin Shu

Theme 3

The ecological role of soil bacteriophages in nitrification and potential application to suppress bacterial nitrifying activity

Bacteriophages (phages) are most abundant “life form” in soil, due to the pervasive distribution and profound ecological influence on host taxonomic diversity. Physiological dynamics position them as critical drivers of microbial population control and bio-geo-chemical nutrient cycling. In the plant nitrogen cycle, nitrification can be mediated by the activity of bacteria which results in nitrogen fertilisation inefficiency and leaching. Phages impact on soil nitrifying bacteria are just beginning to be explored.

Phages have been proposed as biocontrol tools in different fields but how they affect soil is poorly understood. As there is considerable interest in inhibiting nitrification activity in agricultural soils, Yulin Shu’s research will focus on the method of using phages as a biocontrol inhibition for reducing nitrifying bacteria activity.

Yulin is a PhD student supervised by Prof. Hang-Wei Hu, Dr. Thi Bao Anh Nguyen and Dr. Zahra Islam of Theme 3 at the University of Melbourne. She obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees in science at Xinjiang University and finished her research at China Agriculture University. Yulin previously focussed on the land use change management effect on nitrogen cycling and nitrous oxide in agricultural soil.