| Abstract Detail
Symbioses: Plant, Animal, and Microbe Interactions Blosser, G [1], Schierenbeck, K [1], Beattie, S [2], Schlising, Robert [1], Wolfe, G [1]. Diversity and Characterization of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in the Soils of Vernal Pools in Northern California. VERNAL pools are a specific type of seasonal wetland predominantly found in Mediterranean climates, particularly California. These pools are primarily filled directly by rainfall and dry via evapotranspiration. Vernal pool restoration and creation as mitigation measures have become major issues within California. Many of the natural vernal pool ecosystems within California have been destroyed or damaged by agriculture and development, leaving only 5-10% of original pools extant. Despite this no studies have addressed the soil ecology of vernal pools. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) associations are known to be present in a variety of wetland habitats throughout the world, are prevalent in Mediterranean climates, and are likely a part of vernal pool ecosystems. This study was designed to determine if AM fungi were present in the soils of vernal pools using multiple detection methods (spore counts, signature fatty acids, and genetic markers), if the results of these detection techniques differed temporally, and by utilizing a randomized block design, if they differed spatially. In addition, 30 PCR products were sequenced and subjected to the NCBI’s Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) and AMF root colonization was determined to confirm an active mycorrhizal relationship for eight plant species representing seven families. Lipid, genetic, root colonization, and spore count data strongly support the presence of AMF in the soils of vernal pools studied. Temporal changes in AMF variables coincided with plant life cycles (P ≤ 0.018) and spatial differences were found between pools (P ≤ 0.025). Nine AMF taxa representing three families were identified based on microscopic examination of spore morphology and nine taxa representing all five Glomales families were returned as best matches via BLAST. AMF hyphal colonization ranged from 26.6 to 72.4% and AMF intraradical sporulation was observed in three plant species.
Log in to add this item to your schedule
1 - California State University Chico, Department of Biological Sciences, Chico, California, 95929-0515, USA
2 - Iowa State University, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Ames, Iowa, 50011, USA
Keywords:
vernal pool
seasonal wetland
arbuscular mycorrhiza
fungi
California
root colonization
phospholipid fatty acid
spore count.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Topics
Session: 3-8
Location: 277/Holt
Date: Monday, July 31st, 2006
Time: 10:45 AM
Abstract ID:387 |
