26th Annual Student Research Conference
Domestication of Cereal Grains: Effects on Root-Associated Fungal Communities
Deepak Bokati♦* and Ravin Poudel
Dr. Jose Herrera, Faculty Mentor
Root associated fungal (RAF) endophyte symbiosis can play a vital role in development of host plants, especially in stressful and arid environments. We are currently comparing the fungal diversity between roots of common cereal grains [Oryza sativa (rice), Triticum aestivum (wheat), and Zea mays subsp. mays (maize)] and their progenitors [Oryza nivara (wild rice), Triticum monococcum (wild wheat), and Zea mays subsp. parviglumis (teosinte)]. Our recent data shows a decrease in the number and the diversity of the RAF endophytes in the domesticated maize when compared with its progenitor teosinte. During domestication, the number and the diversity of the RAF in maize may have decreased because of human induced reductions in environmental stresses (provision of nitrogen, weeding, watering, etc). Our goal is to study how domestication of cereal grains has affected the diversity and structure of RAF endophytes colonizing the host.
Keywords: Fungal endophytes, Fungal symbiosis, Cereal grains, Domestication, Rice, Wheat, Maize , Progenitor
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 2-3
Location: GEO
Time: 3:30
♦ Indicates Truman Graduate Student