Shuijin Hu

Associate Professor

• Ph.D., Ecology, The University of Georgia
• Postdoctoral, University of California, Davis
• Postdoctoral, University of California, Berkeley

CV | Research Projects

Research Interests

See Chart

The research interests of our group in soil microbial ecology include:

• Microbial mediation of plant and ecosystem responses to global change components. We are currently investigating the mechanisms through which soil microorganisms mediate plant and ecosystem responses to elevated atmospheric CO2, O3 and N inputs. Our major focus is on how microorganisms respond to alterations in C and N availability under these global change components, and what are the implications of the resulting changes in terms of ecosystem C storage.
• Microbial interactions and pathogen/disease suppression. We want to know whether and how the structure, diversity and activities of soil microbial and mesofaunal communities influence the population dynamics and activities of soilborne pathogenic fungi, Pythium spp. and Rhizoctonia spp. in particular.
• Microbial mediation of plant interactions. We are interested in understanding how microbes, mycorrhizal and endophytic fungi in particular, modulate the interactions among coexisting plant species.
• Effects of disturbance on the structure and activities of soil organisms. Our current research examines how disturbance such as conventional farming and elevated atmospheric CO2 affects soil microbes and soil food web interactions and how the resulting alterations in soil organisms influence C and N cycling.

Teaching Activities (Courses Taught)

• Soil/Ecosystem Ecology, PP590/790E
• Ecology, Evolution & Biodiversity, BO 595E (co-teaching)
• New and re-emerging plant diseases in the US (Discussion group) (PP610Y/810Y)

Scholarly and Professional Honors

• William Boright Hewitt & Maybelle Hewitt Award, American Phytopathological Society, 2002. Award information.
• Outstanding Young Scientist Fellowship (Overseas), National Science Foundation of China, 2002.
• National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship, 1996-1998.
• Honorable mention citation for E. Lucy Braun Award, The Ecological Society of America, 1992. Award information.

Selected Publications

• Chen, X., C. Tu, M. Bouton, D. Watson and S. Hu. 2007. Plant nitrogen acquisition and interactions under elevated CO2: impact of mycorrhizae and endophytes. Global Change Biology. In Press.
• Hu, S., C. Tu, X. Chen, and J. B. Gruver. 2006. Progressive N limitation of plant response to elevated CO2: a microbiological perspective. Plant and Soil 289, 47–58.
• Tu, C., F.L. Booker, D.M. Watson, X. Chen, T.W. Rufty, W. Shi, and S. Hu. 2006. Mycorrhizal mediation of plant N acquisition and residue decomposition: Impact of mineral N inputs. Global Change Biology 12, 793–803.
• Tu, C., F.J. Louws, N.G. Creamer, J.P. Mueller, C. Brownie, K. Fager, M. Bell, and S. Hu. 2006. Responses of soil microbial biomass and N availability to transition strategies from conventional to organic farming systems. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 113, 206–215.
• Hu, S., J.S. Wu, K.O. Burkey, and M.K. Firestone 2005. Plant-microbial N partitioning under elevated atmospheric CO2 in two mesocosm experiments with annual grasses. Global Change Biology 11, 213–223.
• Zhang, W., K.M. Parker, Y.O. Luo, S. Wan, and S. Hu. 2005. Soil microbial responses to experimental warming and clipping in a tallgrass prairie. Global Change Biology 11, 266–277.
• Booker, F.L., S.A. Prior, H.A. Torbert, E.L. Fiscus, W.A. Pursley, S. Hu. 2005. Influence of elevated CO2 and O3 on soybean residue chemistry and decomposition. Global Change Biology 11, 685–698.
• Diab H., S. Hu, and D.M. Benson. 2003. Suppression of Rhizoctonia solani on Impatiens by enhanced microbial activity in composted swine waste amended potting mixes. Phytopathology 93, 1115–1123.
• Hu, S., F. S. Chapin, III, M. K. Firestone, C. B. Field and N. R. Chiariello. 2001. Nitrogen limitation of microbial decomposition in a grassland under elevated CO2. Nature 409, 188–191.
• Hu, S., M. K. Firestone and F. S. Chapin III. 1999. Soil microbial feedbacks to atmospheric CO2 enrichment. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 14, 433–437.
• Hu, S., M. K. Firestone and F. S. Chapin III. 1998. Elevated atmospheric CO2 and soil biota. Science 281, 518.
• Hu, S. and A. H. C. van Bruggen. 1997. Microbial dynamics associated with multiphasic decomposition of 14C-labeled cellulose in soil. Microbial Ecology 33, 134–143.

Contact Information

Shuijin Hu, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Plant Pathology
2518 Gardner Hall
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7616

Office: 919-515-2097
Lab: 919-515-3877
Fax: 919-515-7716
E-mail: shuijin_hu@ncsu.edu