Who Lives in a Spore?
Olivia Asher, University of Georgia
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) are a group of early diverging fungi known for their symbiotic associations with plant roots. AMF provide the plant with nutrients such as phosphorus and sometimes nitrogen in exchange for up to 20% of photosynthetic carbon. Due to this ability for nutrient exchange with their host plant, AMF are being investigated for their potential to supplement or replace fertilizers, particularly in bioenergy crops such as sorghum. However, knowledge on how AMF-plant symbioses are impacted by interactions between AMF and other microbes in/on plant roots is currently limited. To gain a more complete understanding of the effects of microbe-microbe interactions on plant health and resiliency, we must first characterize 1) the genomic characteristics of AMF present and 2) the associations between AMF and other microorganisms. To accomplish these goals, we will sequence and analyze complete genomes obtained from single spores representing multiple AMF species isolated from bioenergy sorghum fields in Arizona and Georgia. Our analyses focus on investigating the identity, evolutionary history, and potential roles of AMF and their spore microbiomes. Preliminary results suggest that bacteria and multiple other fungi, ranging from fungal parasites to non-AMF plant-associated fungi can be found in and on AMF spores.
Abstract Author(s): Olivia A. Asher, Reid Longley, Aaron Robinson, Jeffery Bennetzen, Jonathan Arnold