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Establishment of plantations of Casuarina equisetifolia in India with outplants that have been inoculated with specific strains of symbiotic microorganisms.

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Development of serological techniques for the recognition of introduced microbial strains in field material. Application to Casuarina plantations following tests on plantations of Alnus in Scotland, inoculated with specific Frankia strains.

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Determination of symbiotic fixation of nitrogen in the field using a combination of nitrogen balance, ¹⁵N-feeding and ¹⁵N natural abundance techniques.

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Development of in vitro systems for maintenance of VAM and for the production of specifically inoculated plantlets.

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During the first year, plantations in India will be established and maintained and serological techniques developed in Germany. The techniques will be tested on alder plantations in Scotland in year 2 before transfer to and application in India in years 2/3. Similarly, stable isotope techniques will also be tested in Scotland before utilisation on Casuarina in India. Research to develop in vitro culture methods for maintaining VAM will be carried out in Ireland / Aberdeen in years 1 and 2 before transfer to India in years 2/3. A post-doctoral researcher will be employed in Germany to help develop serological techniques and the recruitment and training in Europe of 3 doctoral students from India in the various technical aspects of the programme will form an essential part of the information transfer process. These students will carry out much of the detailed experimental work on their return to India.