During her PhD studies, Nurbanu Shynggyskyzy researched grassland species, including grasses, legumes and forbs to develop a DNA-based method for root biomass quantification. While root biomass plays a key role in soil carbon storage and ecosystem function, it has often been difficult to measure accurately in mixed plant communities. The research demonstrated that a new technique, ddPCR, can reliably quantify species-specific root biomass, offering a significant advantage over the previous methods.

The new research findings contribute to a deeper understanding of carbon dynamics, soil carbon stock management and ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change, offering valuable insights to help mitigate its impacts.

The PhD study was completed at Department of Agroecology, Crop Genetics and Biotechnology Section, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Friday 15 August 2025 at 13:30
Place: Auditorium, Aarhus University, Flakkebjerg, Forsøgsvej 1, 4200 Slagelse
Title of PhD thesis: Development of a DNA-based ddPCR method for species-specific root biomass quantification and root C estimation.
Contact information: Nurbanu Shynggyskyzy, e-mail: nurbanu.shynggyskyzy@agro.au.dk, tel.: +45 71 51 17 59.
Members of the assessment committee:
Senior Scientist Rebecca Hood-Nowotny, Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Austria
Associate Professor Kirsten Jørgensen, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Copenhagen University, Denmark
Senior researcher Henrik Skovgård, Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University (Chair), Denmark
Main supervisor: Professor Henrik Brinch-Pedersen, Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Denmark
Co-supervisors: 
Tenure Track assistant professor Claus Krogh Madsen, Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Denmark
Senior scientist Per Gregersen, Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Denmark
Professor Uffe Jørgensen, Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Denmark
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Technical Sciences/GSTS, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, 8000 Aarhus C.