Atmospheric Transport Barriers and the Biological Invasion of Toxigenic Fungi in the Genus Fusarium

该项目研究了大气传输障碍（ATB）在镰刀菌生物入侵中的作用-镰刀菌是世界上最重要的真菌群之一，也是许多作物的毁灭性疾病病原体。镰刀菌利用大气从一个栖息地传播到另一个栖息地。它们的大气传输知之甚少，但有必要评估其在农业生态系统中的生态作用，并评估入侵镰刀菌带来的风险。这项工作的目标是提高对微生物大气迁移的认识。具体目标是：（1）制定一个框架，以了解ATB在塑造当地和区域规模的镰刀菌种群中的作用，（2）评估与预测ATB相关的低层大气中收集的镰刀菌种群结构，以及（3）提供一个创新的推广计划，以吸引和留住学生在空气生物学和工程学的接口。这个跨学科的项目将创建一个新的框架，了解大气传输如何影响空气微生物的生态生物学。研究和由此产生的新技术将通过在弗吉尼亚理工大学的农场，高中生的空气生物学研讨会，以及在弗吉尼亚州高中的一个雄心勃勃的计划，让学生探索大气中的微生物通过尖端的展示天显微镜。

This project examines the role of atmospheric transport barriers (ATBs) in the biological invasion of Fusarium--one of the most important groups of fungi in the world and a devastating disease agent of many crops. Fusarium species use the atmosphere to travel from one habitat to another. Their atmospheric transport is poorly understood, yet necessary to assess their ecological roles in agricultural ecosystems and to evaluate risks posed by invasive Fusarium. The goal of this work is to develop an increased understanding of the atmospheric transport of microorganisms. The specific objectives are to: (1) develop a framework for understanding the role of ATBs in shaping the populations of Fusarium at both local and regional scales, (2) evaluate the population structure of Fusarium collected in the lower atmosphere associated with predicted ATBs, and (3) deliver an innovative outreach program to attract and retain students at the interface of aerobiology and engineering. This transdisciplinary project will create a new framework for understanding how atmospheric transport influences the ecological biology of airborne microorganisms. Research and resulting new technology will be showcased through Field Days at Virginia Tech's Kentland Farm, aerobiology workshops for high school students, and an ambitious program at a Virginia high school allowing students to explore microorganisms in the atmosphere through cutting-edge microscopy.