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Evidence Of Reduced Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Colonization In Multiple Lines Of Bt Maize, Tanya E. Cheeke, Todd N. Rosenstiel, Mitchell B. Cruzan

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Premise of the Study: Insect-resistant Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize is widely cultivated, yet few studies have examined the interaction of symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) with different lines of Bt maize. As obligate symbionts, AMF may be sensitive to genetic changes within a plant host. Previous evaluations of the impact of Bt crops on AMF have been inconsistent, and because most studies were conducted under disparate experimental conditions, the results are difficult to compare. Methods: We evaluate AMF colonization in nine Bt maize lines, differing in number and type of engineered trait, and five corresponding near-isogenic parental (P) base hybrids …