Jean Stutz

Professor

Jean Stutz started her academic career at Arizona State University in
1981 after receiving her PhD in Plant Pathology from the Pennsylvania
State University. Her research has centered on the study of plants and
their interactions with microbes, especially beneficial fungi and
plant pathogens. She is an expert in the diversity of arbuscular
mycorrhizal (AM) fungi which form symbiotic relationships with roots
of about 80% of land plants and promote plant growth by taking up
mineral nutrients from soil. Her research focusing on the link between
human activities and the diversity and functioning of these microbes
in arid, riparian (river) and urban ecosystems has been supported by
grant funding from the NSF, EPA, USGS, International Society of
Arboriculture, Horticulture Research Institute, the Arizona Department
of Water Resources, the Southwest Center for Environmental Research
and Policy, and Arizona Game and Fish. She is an award winning teacher
involved in the instruction of undergraduate students in the Urban
Horticulture program at the Polytechnic campus. She has also been
involved in the development of 2 non-majors general studies science
courses at ASU. She has made significant contributions in university
service including committee work and student advising and in national
and international professional service.

Education

Ph.D. Plant Pathology, Pennsylvania State University, 1981
M.S.
Plant Science, Emphasis: Horticulture University of Delaware,
1977
B.S. Biology, Ursinus College, 1975

Research Interests

The major focus of Dr. Stutz's research group is the study of
interactions between plants and microbes including mycorrhizal fungi,
a diverse group of fungi that form a mutualistic symbiotic
relationship with plant roots. This type of relationship is common in
many terrestrial ecosystems including deserts and grasslands. One
major research focus has been the assessment of diversity of
arbuscular mycorrrhizal (AM) fungi focusing on arid, riparian (river)
and urban ecosystems. A major research focus is the impact of human
activities on AM fungal diversity and functioning. As part of the
Central Arizona Phoenix LTER, we have begun to publish findings about
AM fungi in urban ecosystems including how landscape practices such as
pruning impact AM fungi and how alterations in AM fungal diversity may
affect plant productivity in urban areas. We have also been working on
the use of AM fungi in restoration of disturbed areas and on the
effects of dams and the exotic plant, tamarisk (salt cedar), on AM
fungi and plant productivity in riparian areas in the US. Dr. Stutz
also interested in research into sustainable landscape practices and
innovative teaching techniques.

Expertise

Diversity of mycorrhizal fungi, Use of mycorrhizal fungi in
restoration and horticulture, Sustainable horticulture

Recent Publications

Bills, R.J. and Stutz, J.C. 2009 AMF associated with indigenous and
non indigenous plants at urban and desert sites in Arizona. Pages
207-220 In Mycorrhizas - Functional Processes and Ecological Impact
(eds) C. Azcón-Aguilar, J. M. Barea, S. Gianinazzi, and V.
Gianinazzi-Pearson. Springer-Verlag. Heidelberg.

Stutz, J.C., V.B. Beauchamp, J. Johnson, L. J. Kennedy, B. S. Richter
and K. M. Jacobson. 2009. Mycorrhizal Ecology Pages 73- 88 in Ecology
and Conservation of Desert Riparian Ecosystems: The San Pedro River
Example (eds) J.C. Stromberg and B. Tellman University of Arizona
Press, Tucson, AZ.

Bradley, L.K., J. C. Stutz, and L. R. Towill. Plant Biology: From the
Classroom to the Internet. Journal of Natural Resources and Life
Sciences Education 38:82-86

Bethlenfalvay G.J., Bashan, Y., Carrillo-Garcia, A., and Stutz, J.
2008. Mycorrhizae as biological components of resource islands in the
Sonoran desert. In: Arbuscular mycorrhizae in arid and semiarid
environments. (Eds) Montaño, N. M., Camargo- Ricalde, S. L.,
García-Sánchez, R., Monroy-Ata, A. Published by: Mundi
Prensa, the National Institute of Ecology-Mexico, Autonomous National
University of Mexico and the Autonomous Metropolitan University of
Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico

Beauchamp, V.B., J.C. Stromberg and J.C. Stutz. 2007. Flow regulation
has minimal influence on mycorrhizal fungi of a semi-arid floodplain
ecosystem despite changes in hydrology, soils, and vegetation. Journal
of Arid Environments 68:188-205.

Whitcomb, S. A., and J. C. Stutz. 2007 Assessing diversity of
arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in a local community: role of sampling
effort and spatial heterogeneity Mycorrhiza 17:429-437.

Beauchamp, V.B., J.C. Stromberg and J.C. Stutz. 2006. Arbuscular
mycorrhizal fungi associated with Populus-Salix stands in a semi-arid
riparian ecosystem. New Phytologist 170:369-380.

Cho K, Toler HD, Lee J, Ownley BH, Stutz JC, Moore JL, Augé
RM. 2006. Mycorrhizal symbiosis and response of sorghum plants to
combined drought and salinity stresses. J Plant Physiol 163:369-380