DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Fungal endophytes and tree genetics: uncovering hidden fungal diversity and estimation of biomass allocation to fungal symbionts

在地球上估计的150万种真菌中，只有大约74，000种被正式描述。 目前对大多数所描述的真菌物种的生物学知识是贫乏的。全球真菌多样性的估计通常取决于被认为与单个植物物种相关的独特真菌物种的数量。然而，如果与植物共生的真菌对植物物种内个体之间的遗传差异敏感，那么可能存在更多隐藏的真菌多样性。因此，重要的是要增加调查工作，并检查真菌群落的潜力，不同的遗传不同的个体植物。本研究的重点是在窄叶棉白杨使用的实验森林中，一个人的多个克隆种植在同一环境中的遗传不同的个人之间的真菌群落的变化。该项目将以两种主要方式补充以前的研究结果。 首先，它比较了真菌的多样性估计使用培养技术与多样性估计的基础上直接检查真菌DNA。 其次，这项研究将通过测量真菌类固醇麦角固醇来估计单个植物中真菌组织的数量。更广泛的影响：有几种方法可以确保这项研究产生更广泛的影响。首先，它将在2011年的弗拉格斯塔夫科学节（FFS）上展出。FFS是一个为期10天的活动，旨在向所有年龄段的人推广科学。与会者将使用显微镜观察内生真菌培养物，并处理当地收集的各种真菌的子实体。第二，这项研究的结果将通过棉白杨生态小组的《土地管理人员研究说明》期刊传播给各区域小组。该出版物分发给近20个团体，包括政府机构、非营利土地保护团体和环境教育中心。第三，这项研究也将有助于培养和分子方法的本科实验室志愿者的培训。第四，将在区域和国家会议上向科学界介绍研究结果，并在同行评审的期刊上发表。

Of the estimated 1.5 million fungal species on earth, only about 74,000 species have been formally described. Current knowledge of the biology of most of the described fungal species is poor. Estimates of global fungal diversity often hinge on the number of unique fungal species thought to be associated with individual plant species. However, if fungi that live in association with plants are sensitive to genetic differences among individuals within plant species, then there may be much more hidden fungal diversity. It is therefore important to increase survey efforts, and to examine the potential for fungal communities to differ among genetically different individual plants. This study focuses on variation in fungal communities among genetically different individuals within narrowleaf cottonwoods using an experimental forest in which multiple clones of an individual are planted in the same environment. This project will add to previous findings in two major ways. First, it compares the diversity estimates of fungi using culturing techniques with diversity estimates based on direct examination of fungal DNA. Second, the study will estimate the amount of fungal tissue in individual plants by measuring the fungal steroid, ergosterol.Broader Impacts: There are several ways in which a broader impact will be ensured for this research. First, it will be presented at the Flagstaff Festival of Science (FFS) 2011. The FFS is a 10-day event that promotes science to people of all ages. Participants will view endophytic fungal cultures using microscopy and handle locally collected sporocarps from a variety of fungi. Second, findings from this research will be disseminated to regional groups through the cottonwood ecology group's Research Notes for Land Managers periodical. This publication is distributed to nearly 20 groups, including government agencies, non-profit land conservation groups, and environmental education centers. Third, this research will also facilitate the training of undergraduate lab volunteers in culturing and molecular methods. Fourth, results will be presented to the scientific community at regional and national meetings, and published in peer-reviewed journals.