The Effect of Symbiotic Fungi on Plant Reproduction

9419722斯蒂芬森最近的研究表明，磷的肥力可以通过控制花粉的特征来控制植物的繁殖。共生真菌，称为菌根真菌，可以增加植物对磷的吸收。这项研究将确定共生真菌是否通过影响花粉质量来影响植物繁殖。该项目将极大地促进我们对植物对环境胁迫(磷素缺乏)的反应以及菌根真菌在这种反应中的作用的理解。这项研究将为自然植物种群的进化提供洞察力，特别是关于局部适应和种群的遗传亚结构。这项研究将对了解作物授粉、基因在作物及其野生近缘之间的流动，以及开发用于农业上理想性状的花粉选择技术具有重要意义。

9419722 Stephenson Recent studies indicate that phosphorus fertility can control plant reproduction by controlling the characteristics of the pollen. Symbiotic fungi, called mycorrhizal fungi, can increase the uptake of phosphorus into plants. This research will determine whether the symbiotic fungi influence plant reproduction via an effect on pollen quality. The project will greatly advance our understanding of the response of plants to environmental stress (phosphorus infertility) and the role of mycorrhizal fungi in that response. The study will provide insight into the evolution of natural plant populations, especially in regards to local adaptation and the genetic substructure of populations. The research should have important ramifications for the understanding of pollination of crops, the flow of genes among crops and their wild relatives, and the development of techniques for pollen selection for agriculturally desirable traits.