Dr Rhea Lumactud

Research vision/ interest

Dr. Lumactud’s research aims to study the patterns and processes governing microbiota diversity and ecosystem functions in various environments under different management practices and stress events. Her research involves microbiota (bacteria, archaea, fungi, and nematodes) and their interactions in the plant and soil interface in the agricultural and natural systems, employing multidisciplinary approaches linking agronomy, soil physicochemical properties, and C and N cycling. 

For more info, please follow the link to her research website:

https://rheaamorcl.wixsite.com/microeco

Education

• Postdoc, University of Alberta
• Postdoc, Pennsylvania State University
• PhD, Microbial Ecology/Environmental Microbiology, University of Toronto
• MSc, Soil Ecology, University of Manitoba
• MSc, Nematology, University of Ghent, Belgium
• BSc, Biology, Mindanao State University, Philippines

Research topics

• Microbial patterns and processes
• Plant-soil microbiome
• Soil food web
• Soil biodiversity
• Trophic interactions
• Plant-soil feedbacks
• Microbe-microbe interactions
• Sustainable agroecosystems
• Microbially-mediated contaminant degradation

Teaching

• MCRA 2000 Microbiology
• MCRA 4001/AGRI5660 Food Microbiology
• MCRA 4002 Microbiome in Agriculture

International collaborations

Dr. Lumactud values diverse perspectives in research and believes international collaborations foster innovation to address global challenges. She welcomes international collaborations.

Supervision

Dr. Lumactud is open to supervising motivated, bright undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral trainees. She is committed to providing a supportive, enriching, and collaborative environment for all her trainees to achieve their fullest potential. For more info, pls. click the link: https://rheaamorcl.wixsite.com/microeco/join-the-lab

Publications

Lumactud, RA, Gorim, LY, Mezbahuddin, S; Thilakarathna, M. in review. Context-dependent linkage of soil edaphic factors and geographic location to soil bacterial communities across four ecozones in Alberta, Canada.

Dollete, D*, Lumactud, RA, Carlyle, CN, Szczyglowski, K, Hill, B, Thilakarathna, M. in review. Drought- impaired symbiotic nitrogen fixation in forage legumes impacts soil nitrogen availability and soil microbial diversity. *student supervision

Lumactud, RA, Gorim, L and Thilakarathna, M. (2022). Impacts of Humic-Based Products on the Microbial Community Structure and Functions Toward Sustainable Agriculture. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

Lumactud, RA, Dollete, D*, Liyanage, D, Szczyglowski, K, Hill, B, and Thilakarathna, M. (2022). The Effect of Drought Stress on Nodulation,Plant Growth, and Nitrogen Fixation in Soybean During Early Plant Growth. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science. *student supervision

Kang, S^#, Lumactud, RA^# , Li N^#, Bell TH , Kim HS , Park SY , Lee YH. (2021). Harnessing Chemical Ecology for Environment-Friendly Crop Protection.Phytopathology. 111(10): 1697-1710. ^# co-first author

Lumactud, RA, Fulthorpe, RR. (2018). Endophytic Bacterial Community Structure and Function of Herbaceous Plants From Petroleum Hydrocarbon Contaminated and Non-contaminated Sites. Frontiers in Microbiology.

Lumactud, RA , Fulthorpe, R , Sentchilo, V , van der Meer, JR. (2017). Draft Genome Sequence of Microbacterium foliorum Strain 122 Isolated from a Plant Growing in a Chronically Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Site. Genome announcements.

Lumactud, RA , Fulthorpe, R , Sentchilo, V , van der Meer, JR. (2017). Draft Genome Sequence of Plantibacter flavus Strain 251 Isolated from a Plant Growing in a Chronically Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Site .Genome announcements

Memberships

• Canadian Society of Microbiologists
• Canadian Society of Soil Science

Research facility/lab

• Thermoscientific Quant Studio 5 Real-Time PCR Detection System
• BIO-RAD S1000 Thermal cycler
• BIO-RAD Gel Doc XR; electrophoresis system
• BioTek Multimode microplate reader
• Thermoscientific Genesys UV-Vis Spectrophotometer
• Eppendorf refrigerated incubator shakers; incubators; Shaking water bath; orbital shaker
• Thermoscientific tube revolver/rotator
• Large benchtop centrifuge; mini centrifuge
• Sonicator/Sonicator Probe
• Heidolph Tuttnauer autoclave
• Thermoscientific Ultra low temperature upright double door freezer
• Analytical weighing balance