Abstract Detail

Mycological Section

Bainard, L.D. [1], Bainard, Jillian D. [1], Newmaster, Steve [2], Klironomos, J.N. [3].

Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal colonization on the degree of endopolyploidy in forty angiosperm species.

Endopolyploidy is identified by the presence of nuclei with multiple ploidy levels in the same individual. Previous research has found that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal colonization altered various nuclear characteristics of the host plant, possibly indicating changes in the degree of endopolyploidy. To test the hypothesis that AM fungal colonization affects the degree of endopolyploidy of the host plant, seeds from forty angiosperm species were collected and grown in a greenhouse. From each species, six individuals were planted in sterile soil; three were inoculated with the AM fungus Glomus intraradices and three individuals were grown without. At the time of flowering, root, stem, leaf, and petal tissues were collected. Nuclei were isolated and stained with propidium iodide, and analyzed using flow cytometry. Roots of each species were stained to confirm the presence or absence of AM fungal colonization. In general, it was found that species that associated with AM fungi showed a change in the degree of endopolyploidy in the root tissues, though above-ground tissues were not affected. We also present the degree of endopolyploidy and genome size estimate for forty angiosperm species.

Broader Impacts:

1 - University of Guelph, Integrative Biology, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
2 - Univeristy of Guelph, Integrative Biology, 50 Stone Rd East, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
3 - University of British Columbia, Biology and Physical Geography Unit, 3333 University Way, Kelowna, BC, V1V 1V7, Canada

Keywords:
endopolyploidy
arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
genome size
DNA content.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Hall A/Convention Center
Date: Monday, August 2nd, 2010
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PMY001
Abstract ID:506