Alteration of Ectomycorrhizal Fungus Community Structure: A DNA Fingerprinting Approach

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The objectives of the proposed research is to use polymerase chain reaction amplification of DNA (pcr) in conjunction with base sequencing to identify ectomycorrhizal fungi competing for colonization sites on the root systems of white pine seedlings. At present, only two or three ectomycorrhizal fungi can be identified on the basis of ectomycorrhiza morphology since the taxonomy of these fungi is based on characteristics of the reproductive structures, e.g., mushrooms, truffles. A reliable means of identifying fungi from ectomycorrhizae and hyphae is needed if the importance of fungi in major ecosystem processes, e.g. decomposition, nutrient absorption of trees, alteration of community composition by pathogenic fungi, etc., is to be determined. Although the fungi to be studied are native to the area and not genetically engineered, the results of introducing a known fungus into the soil and verifying recovery of the same fungus by DNA fingerprinting will be directly applicable to experiments introducing genetically engineered microbes.