Afforesting with microbes: disentangling the effects of soil biotic and abiotic characteristics on trees using soil inoculation

Georgopoulos, K. (2025)

Doctoral Thesis

In this thesis I examine how soil biotic and abiotic characteristics change and interact throughout the course of afforestation and how they subsequently impact tree performance. Furthermore, I dive deeper into the relationship between A. glutinosa and F. alni and assess how these characteristics also impact this symbiosis.

• Soil microbial communities
• Bacteria
• Fungi
• Soil animals
• Soil properties
• Greenhouse gases
• Herbivory
• Frankia alni
• Alnus glutinosa

• All authors: Georgopoulos, K.
• Supervisor: Bezemer, T.M.
• Co-supervisor: Gomes, S.I.
• Committee: Meijer, A.H.; Offringa, R.; Spaink, H.P.; Schmidt, I.K.; Veen, C.; Hannula, S.E.
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Institute of Biology Leiden (IBL), Faculty of Science, Leiden University
• Date: 2025-11-19
• ISBN (print): 9789464738698