Abstract Detail

Molecular Ecology and Evolution

Baker, Stokes S [1], Fijal, Savannah [2], Kooner, Taj P. [2], Abdulrazzaq, Mustafa F. [2], Young, Ian T. [2].

Giant duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza) gene expression response to phosphorus.

Robust pollution monitoring methods can be used in mitigation strategies. Experiments have been initiated to determine if Spirodela polyrhiza (giant duckweed) gene expression patterns can be used to monitor the concentration of phosphorus, the limiting factor of algae growth in most aquatic ecosystems. Sterile cultures of S. polyrhiza were grown under standard laboratory conditions (40,385 ppb), under phosphorous starvation (0 ppb), and under eutrophic condition (50 ppb). Next generation sequencing experiments (i.e., RNAseq) was used to identify candidate genes that respond to phosphate. When plants were moved from 40,385 ppb P to 0 pbb P, 1060 transcripts were upregulate by phosphate starvation and 1715 were down regulated. In contract, a comparison of plants growing in 50 ppb P versus 0 ppb P showed only two genes upregulated by phosphate starvation and no genes down regulated. Population growth studies of sterile cultures showed a linear response when plants were grown under phosphorous starvation (0 ppb) and eutrophic levels (50 ppb) phosphorous. The US Environmental Protection Agency would classified aquatic environments containing 50 ppb as highly polluted. The lack of gene expression response and linear growth response of duckweed growing in sterile cultures indicate that additional component (possibly microbes) are required for efficient uptake of phosphorous by duckweed.

1 - University of Detroit Mercy, Biology Department, 4001 W. McNichols Rd., Detroit, MI, 48221, 313-993-1142
2 - University of Detroit Mercy, Biology Department, 4001 W. McNichols Rd., Detroit, MI, 48221, 313-993-1180

Keywords:
Spirodela polyrhiza
Duckweed
Phosphate
Phosphorus
RNAseq
Next generation sequencing
Eutrophic
aquatic plants
Pollution
gene expression.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P, Molecular Ecology & Evolution Posters
Location: Exhibit Hall/Savannah International Trade and Convention Center
Date: Monday, August 1st, 2016
Time: 5:30 PM This poster will be presented at 6:15 pm. The Poster Session runs from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Posters with odd poster numbers are presented at 5:30 pm, and posters with even poster numbers are presented at 6:15 pm.
Number: PML004
Abstract ID:367
Candidate for Awards:None