RESPONDING TO SOIL FUNGAL COMMUNITIES: A LOOK AT INTERACTIONS BETWEEN ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI AND THE COMMON YELLOW MONKEYFLOWER

Author

Mariah McIntosh, University of MontanaFollow

Graduation Year

2017

Graduation Month

May

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

School or Department

Biological Sciences, Division of

Major

Biology – Ecology and Organismal Biology

Faculty Mentor Department

Biological Sciences, Division of

Faculty Mentor

Lila Fishman

Keywords

mycorrhizal fungi, plant-AMF interactions, Mimulus guttatus, local adaptation

Subject Categories

Biology | Genetics and Genomics | Life Sciences | Plant Biology | Plant Sciences

Abstract

The obligate fungal mutualists arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonize the roots approximately 80% of vascular plants, generally thought to provide mineral nutrition, pathogen protection, or drought resistance to plants in exchange for photosynthetic carbon. Because of the ecological and evolutionary significance of these interactions, much work has been done to understand this symbiosis at the community level. However, much remains to be understood about how AMF affect plant fitness on an individual level. In this study, we took advantage of the tractability of the emerging model species Mimulus guttatus, the common yellow monkeyflower, to identify genetic differences in how contrasting annual and perennial populations respond to AMF. Specifically, we tested for differences in plant dependency on AMF, variation in local adaptation to native AMF communities, and ability to selectively associate with some AMF taxa over others. We conducted a full factorial common garden greenhouse experiment using plant, soil, and inoculum from each contrasting field site. We found no dependency on AMF in either population and no local adaptation to native AMF communities; however, we did find some subtle differences between contrasting annual and perennial plant types in how they interact with AMF. The presence of AMF did not confer a fitness advantage to either plant type and was often associated with a fitness cost, despite differences in life history, providing evidence for a potentially antagonistic relationship between M. guttatus and AMF under certain conditions, consistent with the theory that more ruderal species are less likely to benefit from AMF.

Honors College Research Project

Yes

Recommended Citation

McIntosh, Mariah, "RESPONDING TO SOIL FUNGAL COMMUNITIES: A LOOK AT INTERACTIONS BETWEEN ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI AND THE COMMON YELLOW MONKEYFLOWER" (2017). Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts. 141.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/utpp/141