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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Investigating Plant Physiological Responses To Global Phylogenetic Diversity Of Glomeromycotina, David Z. Mowbray
Investigating Plant Physiological Responses To Global Phylogenetic Diversity Of Glomeromycotina, David Z. Mowbray
Honors Undergraduate Theses
Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are ubiquitous symbionts of terrestrial plant species with associations predominantly characterized as mutualistic. In addition to well-documented enhancement of host growth response, more recent analyses have demonstrated the conferral of host benefits under numerous biotic and abiotic stressors. However, much of the established evidence originates from studies involving limited AM fungal diversity. Accordingly, this study sought to evaluate the potential effects of inoculation on plant host physiological traits within a growth chamber environment, investigate potential correlations between host trait responses, & assess the degree of phylogenetic signal observed in trait responses due to the presence of …
Population Genomic Characterization Of Cercospora Janseana On Rice In The Southern United States, Jacob Searight
Population Genomic Characterization Of Cercospora Janseana On Rice In The Southern United States, Jacob Searight
LSU Master's Theses
Cercospora janseana is the causative agent of narrow brown leaf spot (NBLS). Effort had been undertaken since the 1940’s to control this disease through resistance breeding in the Southern United States. However, a severe epidemic of NBLS in 2006 inspired renewed focus on managing this disease. One tool for managing this disease has been identified among resistant cultivars, the CRSP-2.1 resistance locus to NBLS. One thing limiting the investment and deployment of CRSP-2.1, and other unknown resistance genes, is the historical observation that resistance to NBLS rapidly breaks-down in the field. Together, the rapid breakdown of resistance to NBLS …
Understanding The Etiology Of Taproot Decline Of Soybean Caused By Xylaria Necrophora, José E. Ortiz Solórzano
Understanding The Etiology Of Taproot Decline Of Soybean Caused By Xylaria Necrophora, José E. Ortiz Solórzano
LSU Master's Theses
Taproot decline (TRD) of soybean is caused by Xylaria necrophora. However, the mechanisms by which it infects soybean and produces symptoms are unknown. Symptoms of TRD include foliar interveinal chlorosis and necrosis and root necrosis, yet X. necrophora appears to be restricted to the roots. While Xylaria species are predominantly wood decomposers, a few are pathogens. More importantly, they produce secondary metabolites (SMs) with multiple bioactivities, including phytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity. Preliminary experiments suggested that X. necrophora was producing SMs responsible for TRD symptoms. We evaluated cell-free culture filtrates (CFs) for phytotoxicity on soybeans, testing for changes in chlorophyll …
Spore Dispersal Of Slime Molds And Higher Fungi Via Animal Vectors, Courtney Trimble
Spore Dispersal Of Slime Molds And Higher Fungi Via Animal Vectors, Courtney Trimble
Graduate Theses and Dissertations
Myxomycetes and dictyostelids are Amoebozoans that are cosmopolitan inhabitants of a variety of habitats, particularly forest environments. Both groups reproduce using spores which are primarily dispersed via wind in myxomycetes but this characteristic poses a problem for dictyostelids. The spores of dictyostelids are incased in a mucilaginous matrix that makes wind ineffective except in exceptional cases. It has been suggested that animals such as birds may play an important yet understudied role in the dispersal of these organisms. This study investigated how animals could potentially serve as vectors for spore dispersal of dictyostelids and myxomycetes with some limited data obtained …
A Contribution To The Macrofungi Of Cloudland Canyon State Park, Peyden Valentine
A Contribution To The Macrofungi Of Cloudland Canyon State Park, Peyden Valentine
Honors Theses
I conducted a survey of the macroscopic fungi within Cloudland Canyon State Park, Dade County, GA that consisted of twenty-three forays from May through December of 2019, and one foray in March 2020. The results of my survey add baseline data to our knowledge of the mushrooms present within the park, allow for the future construction of an All Taxa Biodiversity Index, and allow comparisons to other surveys of fungal diversity in similar areas of the Cumberland Plateau: the Tennessee River Gorge Trust (Starrett 2005), and the Lula Lake Land Trust (De Guzman 2000). My survey resulted in an overall …
A Contribution Toward A Global Monograph Of Gyroporus: Taxonomy, Phylogeny, Biogeography, Naveed Davoodian
A Contribution Toward A Global Monograph Of Gyroporus: Taxonomy, Phylogeny, Biogeography, Naveed Davoodian
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Gyroporus (Sclerodermatineae, Boletales, Agaricomycetes, Basidiomycota, Fungi) is a genus of ectomycorrhizal mushroom-forming fungi distributed throughout the world in suitable habitats. Previous attempts to untangle the diversity of this genus proved difficult due to the presence of semi-cryptic species and equivocal results from phylogenetic analysis of ribosomal RNA markers. To overcome these obstacles, a combined taxonomic and phylogenetic (emphasizing protein-coding genes) approach is used here to delimit species and elucidate geographic and evolutionary patterns of Gyroporus. Careful study of relevant literature and herbarium specimens was augmented by field work in North America, Australia, and East Asia for observation and collection …
Lichen Conservation In Eastern North America: Population Genomics, Climate Change, And Translocations, Jessica Allen
Lichen Conservation In Eastern North America: Population Genomics, Climate Change, And Translocations, Jessica Allen
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Conservation biology is a scientific discipline that draws on methods from diverse fields to address specific conservation concerns and inform conservation actions. This field is overwhelmingly focused on charismatic animals and vascular plants, often ignoring other diverse and ecologically important groups. This trend is slowly changing in some ways; for example, increasing number of fungal species are being added to the IUCN Red-List. However, a strong taxonomic bias still exists. Here I contribute four research chapters to further the conservation of lichens, one group of frequently overlooked organisms. I address specific conservation concerns in eastern North America using modern methods. …
Evaluation Of Ecto-Mycorrhizae As A Determinant Of Chestnut Growth And Stress Response, Pabitra Aryal
Evaluation Of Ecto-Mycorrhizae As A Determinant Of Chestnut Growth And Stress Response, Pabitra Aryal
Masters Theses
Although agriculture focuses on row crops throughout much of the Midwest, chestnut (Castanea spp.) appears to be an agroforestry crop well suited as a sustainable alternative to row crops in areas prone to erosion. As ectomycorrhizal (ECM) colonization is often crucial for tree establishment and production, I addressed the importance of ECM colonization on chestnut performance by assessing 1) natural ECM colonization in an established chestnut orchard and 2) the effect of experimental ECM inoculation on seedling establishment and drought response in a greenhouse. In the established orchard, I selected 50 Chinese-American hybrid chestnuts (C. mollisima x C. dentata …
Do Novel Weapons That Degrade Mycorrhizal Mutualisms Explain Invasive Species Success?, Philip L. Pinzone Mr.
Do Novel Weapons That Degrade Mycorrhizal Mutualisms Explain Invasive Species Success?, Philip L. Pinzone Mr.
Biology Theses
Invasive plants often dominate novel habitats where they did not co-evolve with local species. Several hypotheses suggest mechanisms that explain increased exotic plant success, including 'novel weapons' and 'degraded mutualisms'. Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) and European buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) are widespread plant invaders in North America that can dominate ecosystems. The goal of this study is to test whether these impacts are more consistent with novel weapons or degraded mutualism hypotheses. I examine tree seedling recruitment, (germination and initial survival) growth, (biomass) and mycorrhizal invasion (AMF content) as a function of F. japonica and R. cathartica …
Evolutionary Relationships Among Fungal Soybean Pathogens And Molecular Marker Development In The Genus Cercospora, Sebastian Albu
Evolutionary Relationships Among Fungal Soybean Pathogens And Molecular Marker Development In The Genus Cercospora, Sebastian Albu
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
Cercospora leaf blight (CLB) and purple seed stain (PSS) are common soybean diseases in the Gulf South of the United States (USA). For nearly a century, Cercospora kikuchii has been considered as the only pathogen causing these diseases. However, previous reports of genetic diversity among isolates collected throughout Louisiana suggested the presence of multiple lineages or species. Recent systematic studies classified species of Cercospora using a taxonomic system based on phylogenetic analysis of five nuclear loci (legacy genes). Using a similar approach, cercosporoid fungi tentatively identified as C. kikuchii were evaluated along with 53 other species of Cercospora. No …
Evaluation Of A Mycorrhizal-Like Fungus, Piriformospora Indica, On Floriculture Crops, Allison Justice
Evaluation Of A Mycorrhizal-Like Fungus, Piriformospora Indica, On Floriculture Crops, Allison Justice
All Dissertations
Piriformospora indica is a fungal endophyte, often called an arbuscular mycorrhizal-like fungus, that has been shown to provide benefits to plant symbionts by increasing nutrient uptake, biomass production, flower number, and disease resistance in a wide range of plant hosts. Research was carried out to investigate the ability of P. indica to improve plant production in floriculture crops. The first objective was to determine the optimal environmental conditions for growing P. indica in pure culture. Environmental conditions were optimized to produce the maximum chlamydospores for inoculum preparation (Chapter 1). These findings were used in the remaining chapters to prepare inocula …
Biological Species Concepts In Eastern North American Populations Of Lentinellus Ursinus, Andrew N. Miller
Biological Species Concepts In Eastern North American Populations Of Lentinellus Ursinus, Andrew N. Miller
Masters Theses
As part of a biosystematic study of the Lentinellus ursinus species complex, field and herbarium specimens from North America, Central America, and Europe were examined. Single basidiospore isolates from basidiomata collected in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Tennessee, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Costa Rica, and Austria were crossed in all possible combinations to determine the mating system operating in each population. All populations exhibited bifactorial or tetrapolar mating systems. Tester strains were then crossed to identify intercompatible populations and to determine if morphological species in the L. ursinus species complex are congruent with biological species. Three biological species were recognized …
A Biosystematic Study Of Panus Conchatus (Basidiomycetes; Agaricales), James Edward Johnson
A Biosystematic Study Of Panus Conchatus (Basidiomycetes; Agaricales), James Edward Johnson
Masters Theses
As part of a biosystematic study of Panus conchatus (Bull.: Fr.) Fr., North American and European herbarium specimens from the Field Museum and the University of Michigan were examined and a description of the taxon prepared. Tissue and single spore isolates were obtained from basidiocarps collected in Illinois. Single and polyspore isolates were obtained from a collection made in Switzerland by R. H. Petersen. Culture mat analyses were completed on several media and the taxonomic value of cultural characters assessed. Based on this study, the identification of somatic cultures by cultural characteristics is unlikely. Single spore isolates from the Illinois …
The Morphology And Cytology Of Preussia Vulgare (Corda) Cain, Marcial Antonio Pastor-Corrales
The Morphology And Cytology Of Preussia Vulgare (Corda) Cain, Marcial Antonio Pastor-Corrales
Masters Theses
No abstract provided.
An Illustrated Guide For The Identification Of Genera And Species Of Filamentous Aquatic Phycomycetous Fungi From Illinois, Sharon Kay Reed
An Illustrated Guide For The Identification Of Genera And Species Of Filamentous Aquatic Phycomycetous Fungi From Illinois, Sharon Kay Reed
Masters Theses
No abstract provided.
Cytomorphological Studies Of The Ascogenous Hyphae Of Four Species In The Genus Chaetomium, Burton M. Berkson
Cytomorphological Studies Of The Ascogenous Hyphae Of Four Species In The Genus Chaetomium, Burton M. Berkson
Masters Theses
No abstract provided.