| Abstract Detail
Mycology & Phycology Conway, Megan [1], Mowbray, David [1], Mendoza, Marvin [2], Giguere, Madlyn [1], Mason, Chase [3]. Understanding impacts of AMF phylogenetic diversity: how Sorghum plant traits respond to 36 diverse fungal species. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have formed relationships with plant roots for at least 400 million years. While this relationship is ancient, there is a surprisingly small number of recognized AMF species, and an even more startling lack of host specificity. The association can be utilized to increase yields and protect crops from environmental stresses, but plant mycorrhizal response has shown to be highly variable with plant host identity at both the intra- and interspecific levels. Less understood is the degree of variability in plant mycorrhizal response attributable to fungal partner identity. To examine this, sudangrass (Sorghum x drummondii) plants were inoculated with strains of 36 individual AMF species representative of phylogenetic diversity across the subphylum Glomeromycotina. Plants were grown in a sterilized medium under controlled conditions in a growth chamber to provide uniform growing conditions. Hyperspectral reflectance, leaf mass per area, and biomass allocation were evaluated to describe plant trait variation in relation to fungal partner identity. Mycorrhizal growth response (MGR) was calculated and used as a proxy for the effectiveness of the plant-fungal relationship. The distribution of MGR and plant trait responsiveness in relation to the AMF phylogeny provides insights into the degree of phylogenetic signal in the plant-side impacts of the symbiosis. Documenting how plant functional traits change with AMF partner identity is necessary to more robustly attribute ecosystem services or ecological strategies to specific AMF species, and useful for designing AMF inoculants for agronomic use.
1 - University of Central Florida, Biology, 4000 Central Florida Blvd, Orlando , FL, 32816, USA
2 - University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Blvd, Orlando, FL, 32816, USA
3 - University Of Central Florida, Department Of Biology, 4110 Libra Dr, Orlando, FL, 32816, United States
Keywords:
mycology
ecophysiology
Mycorrhizae
AMF.
Presentation Type: Poster
Number: PMP002
Abstract ID:961
Candidate for Awards:Phytochemical Best Poster Award |
