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The Endophytes Of Pediomelum Esculentum: A Unique Case In Legume Evolution, Tyrel Ryan Deutscher

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pediomelum esculentum (commonly prairie turnip) is a perennial legume of the Great Plains, consisting of a deep taproot and large edible tuber, and has served as a nutritious staple in Native American diets. The tuber is capable of storing up to 20 percent protein by weight. P. esculentum is a legume, but not a prominent nodule former; instead, it grows in nitrogen-limited soils and produces large amounts of protein. This suggests the involvement of biological nitrogen fixation. We have investigated the presence of diazotrophic endophytes in P. esculentum. Bacteria were isolated from wild plants on nitrogen free media, identified …