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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #66824
Title: THE ROLE OF MICROBES IN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN ARID ECOSYSTEMS

Author
item Barrow, Jerry
item MCCASLIN, BOBBY - NEW MEXICO STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Wildland Shrub Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/4/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Three major classes of endophytic fungi were observed in the roots of native grasses and shrubs. 1)Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM), which are known to be important in water and nutrient uptake. 2) Septate fungi that formed non-destructive interfaces within root cortex cells and exhibited mycorrhizal like characteristics. 3) Chytridiomycetes were the third major class of fungi observed and preliminary studies suggest they regulate colonization of VAM, septate fungi and nutrient uptake. A hypothesis is proposed on how these fungi function in accessing and managing nutrients and water for survival in arid ecosystems.