Sandy Symbionts: How Tree Identity Shapes Ectomycorrhizal Fungus in Sand Pine

Author

John Culbertson, University of Mississippi. Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College

Date of Award

2015

Document Type

Undergraduate Thesis

Department

Biology

First Advisor

Jason Hoeksema

Relational Format

Dissertation/Thesis

Abstract

The purpose of my thesis was to investigate the structure and composition of the ectomycorrhizal (EMC) fungal communities of sand pine (Pinus clausa var. immuginata). Root tips were sampled from four trees located within Eglin Air Force Base. Colonization was shown to differ significantly based on tree identity. Abundance, species diversity, and the ratio of ECM fungi to pathogenic fungi did not differ significantly based on tree identity. A total of 35 ECM operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were shown to colonize the four trees. Helotiales4, Lactarius2, and Cenococcum geophilum were found to be the most abundant OTUs, while Lactarius1 was found to be the least abundant. The results of my research suggest that difference in the ECM communities of sand pine is determined by variation in ECM fungal activity at the microscale of individual trees.

Recommended Citation

Culbertson, John, "Sandy Symbionts: How Tree Identity Shapes Ectomycorrhizal Fungus in Sand Pine" (2015). Honors Theses. 455.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/455

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