Comparison of endophytes associated with the invasive weed, medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae): native range vs. introduced range

Authors: Dunlap, Christopher; Rector, Brian

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/20/2019
Publication Date: 7/14/2019
Citation: Dunlap, C.A., Rector, B.G. 2019. Comparison of endophytes associated with the invasive weed, medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae): native range vs. introduced range. Meeting Abstract.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Medusahead is an invasive weed impacting the Great Basin region of the western United States with damage to the natural and agricultural ecosystems. The native range of the annual grass is the northern Mediterranean basin of Europe. It is well understood that microbial endophytes play an important role in a plant’s ability to adapt to abiotic and biotic stresses. However, there is currently little knowledge on how endophytes enhance or alter the phenotype of invasive weeds. The goal of the current study is to compare the endophytes of medusahead in the native range to endophytes of medusahead in the introduced range. The results show the introduced plants generally had a lower biodiversity of endophytes in all plant parts tested. In addition, there were significant differences in the types of microorganisms that colonized the plants. The endophytes found in the seeds of the plants also demonstrated significant differences between the ranges, which suggests the plants vertically transmit different microorganisms in a range dependent manner. Culture isolations were made to begin to evaluate the impact of these endophytes on the plant phenotype.