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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #203207
Title: Symbiotic fungi that influence vigor, biomass and reproductive potential of native bunch grasses for remediation of degraded semiarid rangelands

Author
item Barrow, Jerry
item Lucero, Mary
item REYES-VERA, ISAAC - NEW MEXICO STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Wildland Shrub Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2006
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Symbiotic fungi integrated with cells, tissues and organs of native desert plants were transferred to non-host tomato and other native desert grasses. Once incorporated into recipient plants, substantial enhancement of vigor, root and shoot biomass and reproductive potential was observed. These fungi appear to be heritable from generation in their native hosts and are also heritable in non-host plants. These fungi are thought to have co-evolved with their host plants and have a major role in regulating plant performance particularly under stress. We believe that these fungi do not modify the plant genome but modify the genetic component of plant cells. The transfer of these fungal symbionts offers an attractive alternative to plant breeding or recombinant DNA for plant improvement.

Technical Abstract: A steady decline of perennial bunch grasses in arid rangelands has resulted in losses of productivity and germplasm. Remediation is costly and rarely successful. Cryptic symbiotic fungi, structurally integrated with cells and organs of native plants cannot be separated from host plant tissue. However, they were successfully transferred from cell cultures of native plants to other native grasses and tomato. Fungi in recipient plants were heritable and substantially enhanced vigor, biomass and reproductive potential. The transfer of novel fungal symbionts to other native or crop plants may offer an alternative method of improving plant performance without modifying native plant germplasm.