Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Plant roots are colonized by a diverse array of fungi. These include not only detrimental pathogens, but also beneficial species which improve plant growth. Still others exist as "endophytes" within the plant root tissue, which do not cause disease symptoms or form the structures normally found in beneficial associations. Root endophytic fungi are often abundant and found on almost all plants so far studied, yet their cryptic nature has constrained investigation into their role in the ecology of the soil environment. Root endophytic fungi potentially represent an undiscovered source of biodiversity. Not only have previous studies of fungal root endophytes uncovered high levels of diversity, but the endophytic fungi of leaves (the above-ground analogy) are thought to be "hyperdiverse". Modern DNA based detection techniques are far more sensitive than those previously employed, and should reveal the true diversity of these unseen organisms.The function of fungal root endophytes is also poorly understood. Some species are "latent pathogens" which will eventually elicit disease symptoms. Others are likely to be involved in beneficial relationships with their hosts in that they may return a "service" to the plant. This may be in the form of protection against detrimental soil organisms or improvement of plant nutrient uptake. Fungal root endophytes may also connect the roots of trees to the roots of plants growing in their understories, allowing for their benefits to be shared.The main objective of the proposed research is to improve our understanding of the diversity and function of the root endophytic fungi. The work will specifically target fungal root endophytes of boreal forest trees, due to the potential for high endophyte diversity and inter-plant connections. The information gathered will further our understanding of fundamental below-ground processes critical to the health of the boreal forest and should be of interest to forest ecologists and managers. Throughout its timeframe, the proposed research will engage two graduate and five undergraduate student research assistants in all aspects of the work, including data analyses, conference presentations and publication opportunities.