This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Porras-Alfaro, A.
Right arrow Articles by Natvig, D. O.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Porras-Alfaro, A.
Right arrow Articles by Natvig, D. O.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Porras-Alfaro, A.
Right arrow Articles by Natvig, D. O.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, May 2008, p. 2805-2813, Vol. 74, No. 9
0099-2240/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.02769-07
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Novel Root Fungal Consortium Associated with a Dominant Desert Grass{triangledown}

Andrea Porras-Alfaro,1* Jose Herrera,2 Robert L. Sinsabaugh,1 Kylea J. Odenbach,1 Timothy Lowrey,1 and Donald O. Natvig1

Department of Biology, MSC03 2020, 1 The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-0001,1 Department of Biology, 100 E. Normal, Truman State University, Kirksville, Missouri 635012

Received 7 December 2007/ Accepted 1 March 2008

The broad distribution and high colonization rates of plant roots by a variety of endophytic fungi suggest that these symbionts have an important role in the function of ecosystems. Semiarid and arid lands cover more than one-third of the terrestrial ecosystems on Earth. However, a limited number of studies have been conducted to characterize root-associated fungal communities in semiarid grasslands. We conducted a study of the fungal community associated with the roots of a dominant grass, Bouteloua gracilis, at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico. Internal transcribed spacer ribosomal DNA sequences from roots collected in May 2005, October 2005, and January 2006 were amplified using fungal-specific primers, and a total of 630 sequences were obtained, 69% of which were novel (less than 97% similarity with respect to sequences in the NCBI database). B. gracilis roots were colonized by at least 10 different orders, including endophytic, coprophilous, mycorrhizal, saprophytic, and plant pathogenic fungi. A total of 51 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were found, and diversity estimators did not show saturation. Despite the high diversity found within B. gracilis roots, the root-associated fungal community is dominated by a novel group of dark septate fungi (DSF) within the order Pleosporales. Microscopic analysis confirmed that B. gracilis roots are highly colonized by DSF. Other common orders colonizing the roots included Sordariales, Xylariales, and Agaricales. By contributing to drought tolerance and nutrient acquisition, DSF may be integral to the function of arid ecosystems.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Biology, MSC03 2020, 1 The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001. Phone: (505) 277-2388. Fax: (505) 277-0304. E-mail: aporras{at}unm.edu

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 14 March 2008.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, May 2008, p. 2805-2813, Vol. 74, No. 9
0099-2240/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.02769-07
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Zinger, L., Coissac, E., Choler, P., Geremia, R. A. (2009). Assessment of Microbial Communities by Graph Partitioning in a Study of Soil Fungi in Two Alpine Meadows. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 75: 5863-5870 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • del Mar Alguacil, M., Diaz-Pereira, E., Caravaca, F., Fernandez, D. A., Roldan, A. (2009). Increased Diversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in a Long-Term Field Experiment via Application of Organic Amendments to a Semiarid Degraded Soil. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 75: 4254-4263 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»