This proposal supports the collaboration of Dr. Dwight Baker, Yale University, and Dr. Samira Mansour, Suez Canal University. The overall purpose of this collaboration is to identify useful Frankia strain inocula that will improve growth and yield of Casuarina plantations in Egypt. Much of the research will be conducted at the Suez Canal University in Ismailia, Egypt under the supervision of Dr. Samira Mansour. Dr. Baker will assist in the design of the experiments in Egypt and travel to Ismailia for the set-up of screening trials. At the conclusion of the trials in Egypt, Dr. Mansour will travel to Yale University and complete the DNA analyses in Dr. Baker's laboratory. Scope: This project brings together research scientists from two countries working on nitrogen-fixing trees (Casuarina) and bacterial symbionts (Frankia). It is anticipated that this collaborative research effort will result in improved strains of Frankia that could enhance growth and yield of Casuarina. This collaboration forms a valuable part of our emerging perceptions of Frankia biology. Therefore, this project fulfills objectives of the Science in Developing Countries Program in its exchange and transfer of scientific knowledge through an international collaboration.
