Plant Microbe Interactions between Brachypodium distachyon and Fusarium oxysporum across Seven Accessions

Presenter

Valeria Lacouture

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Samuel P. Hazen, Department of Biology, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 1, 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board A72, Campus Center Auditorium, Row 4 (A61-A80) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

Plant-microbe interactions establish vital partnerships crucial for agriculture and environmental sustainability. This symbiotic relationship, particularly with microorganisms such as fungi, fosters mutual benefits, leading to enhanced plant growth, health, and improved soil fertility. Research consistently demonstrates the pivotal role of fungi in promoting plant growth, highlighting their contribution to the overall well-being of plants in various ecosystems. This study aimed to test for a response in Brachypodium distachyon to Fusarium oxysporum Fo47. B. distachyon is a model system for functional genomics in grasses due to its small and highly homozygous genome size, phylogenetic proximity to wheat, and rapid life cycle, making it ideal for investigating the complex dynamics of plant-microbe interactions and their impact on sustainable agriculture. Similarly, Fo47 is nonpathogenic and known to have growth-promoting properties. After growing in the greenhouse for two weeks, seven different plant accessions were inoculated with fungal cultures, while half of the plants were inoculated with distilled water. After a four-week post-inoculation period, thorough imaging and analysis of the plants unveiled a substantial increase in above-ground biomass for two accessions, Bd21 and Spa-S6D. Conversely, the remaining accessions did not respond to the fungus. This study showed the ability of Fusarium oxysporum to affect above ground biomass of Brachypodium distachyon, in an accession specific manner.

Keywords

Plant Biology, Pathogens , Fungus

Research Area

Biological Organisms

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