Project description:Studying the endophyte strains of poplar that help the plant solubilize phosphate, we observed direct evidence of endophyte-promoted phosphorous fixation. Using synchrotron x-ray fluorescence (SR-XRF) microscopy combined with x-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES), we visualized the nutrient phosphorous inside poplar roots inoculated by the selected endophytes and found that the phosphorus is fixated in the form of organic phosphate inside the root. Proteomics characterization on poplar roots revealed novel proteins and metabolic pathways involved in endophyte enriched phosphorus uptake.