RIG: Characterizing the Role of Dark Septate Endophytes Within Semi-arid Grasslands

暗隔膜真菌内生菌（DSE）最近出现在几个不同的植物群落，特别是在压力环境中的重要生态系统组成部分。蓝禾（Bouteloua gracilis）是北美最重要的牧草之一，含有大量的DSE。使用标准的分子技术，研究者和他的学生将比较定居在B的真菌物种的集合。gracilis与同一研究区的另一种重要多年生牧草隐柄孢囊霉（Sporobolus cryptandrus）的种子相似。这种比较将有助于确定哪些DSEs物种最有可能有助于减轻干旱生境中草所经历的环境压力。更好地了解这些真菌的生态作用将揭示有关其生命周期的基本信息，更重要的是，揭示有关真菌-植物共生体在压力环境中发挥的生态作用的重要细节。 该项目每年将为至少四名本科生提供教育和研究培训，使这些学生能够深入了解生态基因组学，这通常是为攻读研究生学位的学生保留的。本项目的一个目标是对来自不同背景的本科生进行拟议的分子基因组学（一种新兴的高科技产业）各个方面的培训。此外，研究人员将练习和学习新的分子技术，这些技术将被纳入他的课程。这些新技术在课堂上的传播将使一个小型文科院校的不同群体的本科生受益。

Dark Septate Fungal Endophytes (DSEs) have recently emerged as important ecosystem components in several different plant communities, particularly in stressful environments. Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), one of the most important forage grasses in North America, harbors large quantities of DSEs. Using standard molecular techniques, the investigator and his students will compare the assemblage of fungal species colonizing B. gracilis with those inhabiting another important perennial forage grass in the same study area, Sporobolus cryptandrus (sand drop seed). The comparison will help determine which species of DSEs are most likely contributing to the attenuation of environmental stresses experienced by grasses in arid habitats. A greater understanding of the ecological role of these fungi will reveal essential information about their lifecycles and, more importantly, disclose vital details about the ecological role that fungal-plant symbioses play in stressful environments. This project will provide educational and research training for at least four undergraduates per year, such that these students will obtain an in-depth knowledge of ecological genomics that is typically reserved for students pursuing a graduate degree. Training of undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds in all facets of the proposed molecular genomics, an emerging high-tech industry, is a goal of this project. In addition, the investigator will practice and learn new molecular techniques that will be integrated into the curriculum of his courses. The dissemination of these new techniques into the classroom will benefit a diverse group of undergraduates at a small liberal arts institution.