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

暗隔膜真菌内生菌(Deses)最近在几个不同的植物群落中成为重要的生态系统组成部分，特别是在胁迫环境中。蓝格拉玛(Bouteloua Gracilis)是北美最重要的牧草之一，蕴藏着大量的DES。使用标准的分子技术，研究人员和他的学生将比较寄生在细柄假单胞菌和居住在同一研究地区另一种重要的多年生牧草--隐孢子孢子草(沙滴种子)上的真菌物种的组合。这种比较将有助于确定哪些DSE物种最有可能有助于缓解干旱生境中牧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关于它们的生命周期的基本信息，更重要的是，揭示关于真菌-植物共生在压力环境中所起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，使这些学生获得通常为攻读研究生学位的学生保留的深入的生态基因组学知识。培训来自不同背景的本科生在拟议的分子基因组学的各个方面，这是一个新兴的高科技产业，是这个项目的目标。此外，研究人员还将练习和学习新的分子技术，这些技术将被整合到他的课程中。将这些新技术传播到课堂上，将使一家小型文科机构的不同本科生群体受益。

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.