23rd Annual Student Research Conference
Variation in Precipitation Patterns and the Affect on Root-Associated Fungal Communities Inhabiting Sporobolus cryptandrus
Katherine A. Nebel* and Ravin Poudel
Dr. Jose Herrera, Faculty Mentor
The root-associated fungal communities (RAF), specifically Dark Septate Endophytes (DSE), have been examined in the semi-arid grasslands of New Mexico within the Monsoon Rainfall Manipulation experimental plots built by the University of New Mexcio. During the months of July and August two different sets of root samples were collected of the same S. cryptandrus plants. Prior to each collection the plants were exposed to different watering regimes, including a subset that received only ambient rainfall. Fungal load and diversity within these root samples were compared among the different water variation treatments. Currently, data suggest roots receiving more varied rainfall have greater RAF diversity, though members of the Paraphaeospheria spp. clade account for the largest number of OTUs (Operational Taxonomic Unit), irrespective of sampling time or treatment.
Keywords: fungi, dark septate endophytes, arid environments, precipitation, plant-fungal interactions
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 58-2
Location: MG 2001
Time: 3:00