I (Ids) Willemsen

Soil is an incredibly biodiverse ecosystem, home to a variety of microorganisms and organisms, including plant-parasitic nematodes. These microscopic worms thrive in different soil types and climates, but their distribution and impact on crops are influenced by environmental conditions. Luckily, soil also harbors native antagonists—such as predatory fungi and bacteria—that can suppress nematode populations, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical control. However, as climate change abiotic environmental factors, it is expected to reshape soil community composition, potentially shifting nematode distributions and affecting the balance between pests and their natural enemies. Understanding these interactions is crucial for developing resilient, climate-adaptive strategies to manage nematode infestations and safeguard crop health.

As part of the NEM-emerge project, I will investigate the geographical distribution soil microbiomes across Europe and how we can utilize the native soil microbiome to suppress emerging nematode pests.