24th Annual Student Research Conference
Molecular Assessment of Fungal Endophytes Inhabiting Roots of Teosinte (Zea mays ssp. parviglumis) Grown at Three Different Environmental Settings
Ravin Poudel
Dr. Jose Herrera, Faculty Mentor
All grasses thus far examined have fungal association within their roots, and one group of root fungi that has been recently characterized are the Dark Septate Endophytes (DSE). Even though DSE have been studied for some time, there are very few studies showing effects of these fungi in economically important crops. We sought to study microfungal communities found within the roots of teosinte (Zea mays ssp. parviglumis), a progenitor of maize. Teosinte seedlings were grown in potting soil, desert soil, and desert soil with nurse plants (Sprorobolus cryptandrus) known to harbor DSE, all under monitored greenhouse conditions. ITS region of rDNA from roots of each plant were amplified and sequenced in order to assign taxonomic identity to the fungal communities. Species abundance comparison among three groups of plants was conducted using rarefaction curves and suggested that the lowest fungal diversity occurred in the roots of teosinte grown in potting soil.
Keywords: Dark Septate Endophytes, Internal Transcribed Spacer(ITS), Teosinte (Zea mays ssp. parviglumis), Sprorobolus cryptandrus
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 7-4
Location: MG 1098
Time: 8:45