Abstract Detail

Symbioses: Plant, Animal, and Microbe Interactions

Kellam, Kane [1], Harris, Kody [1], Ward, Jake [1], Twanabasu, Bishnu [1], Sapkota, Jhapendra [2].

Mycorrhizal Fungi in Prairie Restoration in Texas.

Less than 1% of the historic 20 million acres of North Central Texas Prairies remain today, which are in need of immediate conservation and restorations. Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) in Fort Worth, Texas is attempting to regrow the natural prairie on the land formerly used as a building and a concrete parking lot by Tarrant County Public Health Department for more than half a century. BRIT is currently examining effectiveness of live prairie soil amendments as a restoration tool. Three treatment plots were established in November 2012 by adding living soil transplanted from a local ranch, compost tea (SGTX mix -Sustainable Growth Texas) made from living prairie soil, and a control plot without soil amendment. Mycorrhizal fungi forming a symbiotic relationship with more than 90% all plants are found in almost all ecosystems. This symbiotic fungi help prairie plants to access the soil nutrients which otherwise may be unavailable to the plants. Mycorrhizal fungi shape the prairie vegetation by influencing plant community structure and diversity in the prairies. Native prairie plants colonized by mycorrhizal fungi out compete other plants. To determine the effects of soil amendments on the below ground symbiotic fungi, we collected root samples of eight plant species from each treatment plot in August 2014. Collected root samples were cleared and stained to quantify level of mycorrhizal colonization. Our goal was to determine how mycorrhizal fungi in prairie plants respond to aforementioned prairie restoration methods. We did not find any significance difference in hyphal and vesicular colonization among the treatment plots; however, arbuscular colonization was significantly higher in the control plot (20.19±1.79 %) compared to the plot treated with living soil and the plot with compost tea (10.56±1.53 % and 10.96±1.79 % respectively). Hyphal coil colonization on the other hand was significantly lower in the plot with living soil amendment (8.49±0.95%) compared to compost tea treatment and control plots (13.33±1.79 % and 13.79±1.52% respectively). Furthermore, levels of mycorrhizal colonization were significantly different across the plant species and combined effects of species and treatments as well. As the mycorrhizal fungi are important symbionts of the native prairie plants, we believe this study helps to understand the better management practices for the prairie restoration while considering below ground fungal endophytes.

1 - Weatherford College, Biology, 225 College Park Drive , Weatherford, TEXAS, 76086, USA
2 - Oklahoma State University, Statistics, 202 Whitehurst , Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA

Keywords:
Mycorrhizal Fungi
Texas Prairie
Botanical Research Institute of Texas.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P, Symbioses: Plant, Animal, and Microbe Interactions 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 5:30 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: PSB005
Abstract ID:505
Candidate for Awards:None