La Tara (Caesalpinia spinosa) est une espèce forestière d’une grande importance en raison d’une forte demande sur le marché international pour les tanins présents dans ses gousses, et pour les gommes provenant de ses graines. Malgré son importance économique pour le Pérou, la majeure partie de la production provient de forêts naturelles non aménagées. Ces forêts présentent des problèmes de sol (érosion, faible fertilité, présence d’agents pathogènes, manque d'irrigation), qui conduisent à des rendements faibles. C’est pourquoi dans le présent travail, nous étudions les composantes microbiologiques du sol associé à cette culture, telles que les mycorhizes et les bactéries dont l’utilisation, selon de nombreuses études, s’est révélée être une alternative à l'utilisation d'engrais chimiques. Pour cela, nous avons procédé à l'analyse moléculaire de la diversité des champignons mycorhiziens arbusculaires par la technique de Miseq Illumina, ce qui nous a permis de mettre en évidence une prépondérance de Gloméracées parmi lesquelles les Rhizophagus spp. étaient retrouvés dans 70% des séquences. En outre, la dépendance de la Tara vis-à-vis de la mycorhization a été démontrée car, après avoir testé la mycorhization contrôlée de la Tara par Rhizophagus irregularis, il a été constaté que la croissance de Caesalpinia spinosa était considérablement améliorée, ainsi que l'absorption d'éléments nutritifs tels que l'azote (N) et le phosphore (P). Pour vérifier la capacité à noduler de la Tara, différents milieux de culture ont été utilisés ainsi que différentes conditions de croissance, en serre et in vitro. Ces expérimentations ont toutes montré que les racines de Tara ne présentaient pas de nodules, confirmant que cette légumineuse de la sous-famille des Caesalpinioideae est non nodulante. Par conséquent et afin d’étudier la diversité des rhizobia présents dans le sol de la plantation de Tara, nous avons utilisé en serre une plante-piège, le pois (Pisum sativum) car c’est une légumineuse nodulante et de plus est traditionnellement associée à la culture de Tara. Les rhizobia identifiés moléculairement se sont révélés très spécifiques et différents des rhizobia présents dans les sols extérieurs à la plantation de Tara. Plus particulièrement, ces rhizobia se sont révélés être phylogénétiquement proches de R. etli, R. phaseoli, R. pisi et R. leguminosarum. Enfin, un test d'inoculation contrôlée (in vitro) a été réalisé sur des plantules de pois, avec ces bactéries préalablement piégées et isolées du pois. Il a été observé que les rhizobia piégés à partir des sols collectés entre deux lignes de Tara et sur la ligne de plantation de Tara, ont stimulé la croissance du pois par rapport aux rhizobia présents dans les sols collectés à l'extérieur de la plantation. / The Tara (Caesalpinia spinosa) is a forest species of great importance due to its high demand in the international market for the tannins present in its pods and its seeds’ gum. Despite its great importance for Peru, most of the production comes from unmanaged natural forests. These forests present soil problems (e.g., erosion, low fertility, pathogens, lack of irrigation), which cause low yields. Therefore, in the present work we seek to study the soil components associated with Tara plantation , such as mycorrhizae and bacteria that have proved to be an alternative for reducing the use of chemical fertilizers in similar context (Aboubacar et al., Flores Chavez 20015, E and Saif 1987, Dia et al. 2010; Bilgo et al., 2013) . We used molecular analysis of the arbuscular diversity by the Miseq Illumina technique that allowed to verify the arbuscular diversity with a preponderance of Glomeraceae among which the Rhizophagus spp were found to be present in 70% of the sequences. In addition, the dependence of the Tara on obligatory mycorrhization was demonstrated, after testing the controlled mycorrhization of the Tara by the Rhizophagus irregularis. We found that the growth of this crop was significantly improved, as well as the absorption of nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P).To check the nodulation of the Tara, different culture media were used (JenSen, sand mixture with Tara plantation soil, attapulgite mixture with Tara plantation soils) in greenhouse and in vitro condition. We did not manage to find rhizobial nodules in the roots which let us think that Tara is a non-nodular legume. Therefore, we used Pisum sativum as a trap plant to study the diversity of rhizobia present in the soil of the Tara plantation since this legume is often associated with Tara crop. The rhizobia found in the trap plant were very specific and different from the rhizobia present in soils outside the Tara plantation. Likewise, these rhizobia found to be phylogenetically close to R. etli, R. phaseoli, R. pisi and R. leguminosarum. Finally, we inoculated the trapped bacterias (in vitro) in Pisum sativum with the bacterias previously trapped and isolated from the pea (which grew in the green house); where it was observed that the rhizospheric bacteria of the zones IL (soil collected between two lines) and L (soil collected from the same line) from the plantation of Tara stimulated the growth of this crop with respect to the bacteria present in soils collected outside of the plantation (OP zone).

Em busca de melhorar a eficiência do uso de fontes de fósforo (P) e viabilizar o aumento da absorção deste nutriente, objetivou-se com este trabalho determinar as mudanças promovidas por plantas de cobertura, associadas à fontes fosfatadas de solubilidade distintas, na colonização por fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (FMA), como também avaliar as mudanças promovidas na disponibilidade de frações de P no solo e na eficiência de uso do P pelas coberturas. O delineamento adotado foi de blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 5x3, com quatro repetições. Foram utilizadas quatro plantas de cobertura: milheto (Pennisetum glaucum), braquiária (Brachiaria ruziziensis), guandú-anão (Cajanus cajan) e crotalária (Crotalária juncea), além do controle (pousio);Duas fontes de P: fosfato natural reativo Bayóvar e superfosfato simples, além de um tratamento controle (sem fosfato),. Avaliou-se a colonização micorrízica por FMA e densidade de esporos no solo em três épocas, correspondendo à estação chuvosa e seca de 2013 e a estação chuvosa de 2014. Avaliou-se também a produção de massa seca e o acúmulo de P pelas plantas. No final do segundo ano, analisou-se o fracionamento de P do solo. A colonização radicular foi mais influenciada nas épocas chuvosas. A presença das plantas de cobertura proporcionou maior colonização micorrízica e densidade de esporos na época chuvosa. As aplicações de fontes fosfatadas não influenciam a densidade dos esporos, enquanto que as plantas de cobertura, principalmente o guandú e a braquiária, apresentaram aumento no número de esporos. Apesar de não aumentar as frações lábeis do P no solo, a utilização de plantas de cobertura proporcionou maior ciclagem do nutriente. Os fosfatos não influenciaram a massa seca nem o acúmulo de P, sendo que houve efeitos das plantas de cobertura na massa seca e no acúmulo de P na parte aérea, com destaque para o milheto e a braquiária. / In order to improve the use efficiency of phosphorus sources and enable a higher absorption of this nutrient, this research aimed to determine the changes promoted by cover crops and phosphorus sources of different solubility in the colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), as much as the availability of P fractions in the soil and the use efficiency of P by the cover crops. A complete randomized block design was adopted, in a 5x3 factorial scheme, with four replications. For the first factor were used four cover crops: millet (Pennisetum glaucum), brachiaria (Brachiaria ruziziensis), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) and sun hemp (Crotalaria juncea), including a control (fallow); for the second factor were used the reactive phosphate Bayovar and the simple superphosphate plus a control treatment (no phosphate). It was assessed the AMF colonization, the spore density in the soil in three different times, the rainy and dry seasons in 2013, and the rainy season in 2014. At the end of 2014, it was also evaluated the amount of the fractioned P in the soil. The root colonization was more influenced in rainy season. The presence of cover crops provided greater mycorrhizal colonization and spore density in the rainy season. The applications of phosphate sources did not influence the spores density. However, the cover crops, mainly pigeon pea and brachiaria, showed an increase in the number of spores. The use of cover crops did not increase the labile fractions of P in the soil, Nevertheless they provided greater cycling of this nutrient. Phosphates did not influence the dry matter or the accumulation of P. Interestingly, the dry matter and P accumulation in shoots was influenced by the kind of cover crops, being higher for millet and brachiaria.

CAPES / Currently there is a need to produce seedlings at low cost and with high quality to be used in the recovery of degraded areas and the use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can improve their development in low fertility soils. AMF have several benefits for the plants, because they promote increased survival and establishment of seedlings in the field, as with the symbiosis hyphae improve water use and nutrients. And before this, the present study aimed to evaluate the growth of seedlings Albizia polycephala inoculated with different AMF. First they were produced inoculants through traps vessels with species of native AMF obtained from samplings in the rhizosphere of matrices Albizia polycephala. Later two experiments were conducted, the first being tested five species of AMF from the Collection arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi of Embrapa Agrobiology (COFMEA), mounted in a completely randomized block design with six treatments (control - without inoculation, Scutellospora calospora (T.H. Nicolson & Gerd.) C. Walker & F.E. Sanders, Acaulospora colombiana (Spain & N.C. Schenck) Kaonongbua, J.B. Morton & Bever, Claroideoglomus etunicatum (W.N. Becker & Gerd.) C. Walker & A. Sch??ler, Dentiscutata heterogama (T.H. Nicolson & Gerd.) Sieverd., F.A. Souza & Oehl e Gigaspora margarita W.N. Becker & I.R. Hall) and nine repetitions. In the second experiment inoculants native AMF were tested (native inoculant) and the best species of AMF in the first experiment (Embrapa inoculant). The experimental design was randomized blocks with eight repetitions, in a factorial 3 x 4, that is, three treatments (a witness - no inoculation and two inoculants - native inoculum and mixture of three species from COFMEA) and four doses of P (0, 35, 140 and 350 mg/dm?), applied in the form of superphosphate. The seed Albizia polycephala germinated in trays with sand and vermiculite (2: 1with based on volume) and when the seedlings had a pair of leaves were transplanted with the inoculant in plastic containers of 700 ml with PVC cartridge 380 cm? coupled your background. During the experiments were conducted biweekly measurements of height and diameter and after collection, the root colonization rate assessments, spore density, dry matter of shoot, root dry matter, reason root /shoot and leaf phosphorus content . The results obtained through the evaluations showed that the species of Acaulospora colombiana was the most effective in promoting the growth of Albizia polycephala. Furthermore, the inoculant of COFMEA provided better growth in different phosphorus levels than native inoculant. Thus, it can be stated that the tested species has association with AMF efficiently and has high dependence mycorrhizal. / Atualmente existe a necessidade de se produzir mudas a baixo custo e com ?tima qualidade para serem utilizadas na recupera??o de ?reas degradadas e a utiliza??o dos fungos micorr?zicos arbusculares (FMAs) pode melhorar o seu desenvolvimento em solos de baixa fertilidade. Os FMAs apresentam v?rios benef?cios para as plantas, pois promovem uma maior sobreviv?ncia e estabelecimento das mudas no campo, j? que com a simbiose as hifas melhoram o aproveitamento de ?gua e nutrientes. E diante disso o presente trabalho teve como objetivo geral avaliar o crescimento de mudas de Albizia polycephala inoculadas com diferentes FMAs. Primeiramente foram produzidos inoculantes atrav?s de vasos armadilhas com esp?cies de FMAs nativos, obtidos a partir de coletas de solo na rizosfera de matrizes de Albizia polycephala. Posteriormente foram realizados dois experimentos, sendo no primeiro testadas cinco esp?cies de FMAs provenientes da Cole??o de fungos micorr?zicos arbusculares da Embrapa Agrobiologia (COFMEA), em blocos inteiramente casualizados, com seis tratamentos (Testemunha ? sem inocula??o, Scutellospora calospora (T.H. Nicolson & Gerd.) C. Walker & F.E. Sanders, Acaulospora colombiana (Spain & N.C. Schenck) Kaonongbua, J.B. Morton & Bever, Claroideoglomus etunicatum (W.N. Becker & Gerd.) C. Walker & A. Sch??ler, Dentiscutata heterogama (T.H. Nicolson & Gerd.) Sieverd., F.A. Souza & Oehl e Gigaspora margarita W.N. Becker & I.R. Hall) e nove repeti??es. No segundo experimento foram testados os inoculantes de FMAs nativos (inoculante nativo) e as melhores esp?cies de FMAs do primeiro experimento (inoculante Embrapa). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos casualizados com oito repeti??es, em fatorial 3 x 4, ou seja, tr?s tratamentos (uma testemunha ? sem inocula??o e dois inoculantes ? in?culo nativo e mistura de tr?s esp?cies provenientes da COFMEA) e quatro doses de P (0, 35, 140 e 350 mg/dm?), aplicado na forma de superfosfato simples. As sementes de Albizia polycephala germinaram em bandejas contendo areia e vermiculita (2:1com base em volume) e quando as pl?ntulas tinham um par de folhas foram transplantadas junto com o inoculante em recipientes pl?sticos de 700 ml com tubete de PVC de 380 cm? acoplado em seu fundo. Durante os experimentos foram realizadas medi??es quinzenais de altura e di?metro e ap?s a coleta, as avalia??es de taxa de coloniza??o da raiz, densidade de esporos, mat?ria seca da parte a?rea, mat?ria seca da raiz, raz?o raiz/parte a?rea e teor de f?sforo foliar. Os resultados obtidos atrav?s das avalia??es mostraram que a esp?cie de Acaulospora colombiana foi a mais eficiente em promover o crescimento de Albizia polycephala. Al?m disso, o inoculante da COFMEA proporcionou melhores crescimentos em diferentes doses de f?sforo do que o inoculante nativo. Desta forma, pode-se afirmar que a esp?cie testada apresenta associa??o com FMAs de forma eficiente e tem alta depend?ncia micorr?zica.

Low nutrition availability in the soil can be a major limitation of plant growth. To improve nutrient acquisition, the majority of land plants engage in symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The accommodation of fungal colonisation structures in the roots requires their radical reprogramming. This starts during pre-symbiotic communication, where signals are exchanged between the fungus and plant across the rhizosphere. The receptor D14-LIKE emerged as a vital component of this pre-symbiotic communication when it was found to be absolutely required for symbiosis in rice. However, the broader relevance of the receptor, both in terms of functional conservation across plant species and its relation to other pre-symbiotic plant signalling components, remained unclear. The aim of this thesis was to elucidate these two key points. To address the fragmented picture of fungal signals, plant receptors and signalling pathways, a large scale transcriptomic experiment in rice was conducted to tie D14L together with other distinct pre-symbiotic components. In the absence of D14L-mediated signalling, rice was found to be compromised in the perception of germinated spore exudates, as well as specific chitinaceous signals, meaning that normal transcriptional reprogramming could not be achieved in response to any of these treatments. In addition, the functional conservation of D14L signalling was explored using trans-species complementation experiments. It was found that the Arabidopsis homolog AtKAI2 could complement the developmental phenotype of the d14l rice mutant, but not symbiosis. Likewise, D14La from early diverging Marchantia polymorpha and Marachantia paleacea could rescue developmental phenotypes in d14l rice, but again failed to complement symbiosis. This demonstrated a functional separation between developmental and symbiotic signalling. The data generated during my PhD foster D14L as a central node for multiple inputs to pre-symbiotic reprogramming, and provides new insights into pre-symbiotic communication mechanisms which are required for the successful establishment of symbiosis.

ABSTRACT The success of land plants can be attributed to the evolution of beneficial associations between plant roots and soil microbes. Root-microbe mutualisms extend the range of plant nutrient acquisition delivered through the hyphal network of mycorrhiza, an ancient and widespread plant symbiosis, or by the more recent adaptive innovation of nitrogen-fixing nodule symbioses. A plant’s genetic toolkit governs its selection of beneficial symbionts and the developmental extent of these intimate interactions. However, the evolutionary origins and function for only a few symbiotic signaling components have been explored. The central aim of this dissertation is to resolve the evolutionary events that contributed two, novel genetic components for establishing root symbioses, NPF1B and NPF1C. The Medicago truncatula (Mt) LATD/NIP/NPF1.7C transporter functions in root and nodule meristems and is a member of the large NPF1 gene subfamily. Here, I propose that LATD/NIP’s role in establishing nitrogen-fixing symbioses is derived from the ancient mycorrhizal signaling pathway. I used a comparative phylogenomic approach to investigate the evolutionary origins of the NPF1 gene across flowering plants and then asked whether diversifying or purifying selection forces influenced NPF1 gene retention. I postulated that such gene retention correlates with the adaptive traits of mycorrhizal or nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis; to test this I measured trait correlation within my dataset. I found that the NPF1 phylogeny is comprised of five well-supported angiosperm clades, A, B, C, D1 and D2, that arose by successive duplications and have unequal gene retention. NPF1B is present as a single copy gene or lost entirely, while the other major NPF1 clades expanded to multiple genes within angiosperms. The NPF1A, B and C genes are under strong purifying selection while the NPF1D genes display positive, diversifying selection. My data revealed a statistically significant correlation of NPF1A, B, C, and D2, but not NPF1D1, gene retention with the ability of a species to form mycorrhizal associations. Additionally, the retention of the NPF1B, C, D1, D2, but not NPF1A, genes within a species is statistically correlated with its ability to form nitrogen-fixing symbiosis. Supporting this correlation, NPF1B genes are expressed in plant root tissues with and without mycorrhizal fungi yet available datasets failed to detect NPF1B expression in nodule tissues whereas the NPF1C genes are expressed in both symbiotic and non-symbiotic plant root tissues. In support of functional conservation, expression of legume LATD/NIP cDNAs from Cicer arietinum (Ca) and Lotus japonicus (Lj) restored, in part, the root and nodule defects of the Mtlatd mutant and resulted in the formation of peculiar hybrid lateral root-nodule structures while, in wild-type M. truncatula, significantly augmented root development. In L. japonicus, the disruption of LATD/NIP alters the number of lateral roots and nodules My thesis data support the hypothesis for an ancestral NPF1 gene function in establishing mycorrhizal associations in angiosperms and, consequent to the monocot-eudicot divergence, co-opted this function for accommodating nitrogen-fixing symbioses in eudicots. Successive duplications then yielded the NPF1B and NPF1C genes that, by neofunctionalization and natural selection, further refined their roles in root organogenesis and symbiosis; a prerequisite for the evolution of nodule organs.

The Uinta Basin hookless cactus (Sclerocactus wetlandicus) is a threatened species native to Eastern Utah. The cactus is found in a landscape highly disturbed by non-renewable energy production. To understand the environmental conditions that support natural growth of this cactus, we asked whether plant communities differed in the undisturbed areas where the cactus is and is not found. We then compared undisturbed communities to those found on disturbed areas such as reclaimed well pads. Plant community characterization was accomplished with the line-point intercept method, and data were analyzed using Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling. There was no significant difference in occupied and unoccupied undisturbed plant communities; S. wetlandicus associates with the common vegetation found in the study area. In contract, plant communities on the well pads were significantly different from those present in undisturbed locations. The disturbed areas were dominated by non-native weedy species and bare soil, thus differing from undisturbed habitats that contained higher relative vegetation cover and a mix of species from all functional groups both native and non-native. To help restore this threatened cactus in disturbed habitats as well as prevent future extinction, we developed and tested a protocol for cactus seed germination in the greenhouse and successfully produced seedlings with a ~75% germination rate. Additionally, an important factor contributing to the successful growth of this threatened cactus is the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). By extracting the DNA from root samples of wild cacti we were able to identify the presence of AMF from the families Glomeraceae and Claroideoglomeraceae representing three genera: Rhizophagus, Glomus, and Claroideoglomus. Sequences closest to Rhizophagus irregularis were identified from multiple root samples. Cactus seedlings may be inoculated with the fungi to promote their growth and ultimately their survival in the wild. Our study indicates that because S. wetlandicus is part of the common plant community of the study area and the well pads are vastly different from the common plant community, disturbed areas should be reclaimed in a way that better resembles undisturbed habitats to increase the likelihood that the newly planted cacti can thrive.

Echinacea purpurea is a native herbaceous perennial with substantial economic value for its medicinal and ornamental qualities. Arbuscular mycorrhizae are symbiotic fungi that form relationships with plant roots and are known to enhance growth in the host. Mycorrhizae and other fungal endophytes often affect stress resistance and secondary metabolism in the host, as well as the ecology of other endophytes in the plant. A newly emerging paradigm in sustainable biotechnique is the targeted use of fungal endophytes to enhance growth and secondary metabolism in crops. Many of the therapeutic compounds in E. purpurea could be affected by fungal colonization. In this research the effects of inoculation of Echinacea purpurea with two classes of fungal endophytes: the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Glomus intraradices and Gigaspora margarita and the entomopathogenic endophyte Beauveria bassiana were evaluated . Endophyte colonization and impacts on plant growth and phytochemistry were tested in multiple greenhouse experiments. Arbuscular mycorrhizae and B. bassiana effectively colonized E. purpurea with some significant interactive effects. Consistent, substantial, and significant increases in all growth parameters were observed in mycorrhizal plants; mycorrhizal plants produced up to four times the biomass of controls in 12 weeks. Broad spectrum changes in fertilization were necessary to produce mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal samples of equal size, and severely nutrient-limited mycorrhizal E. purpurea seedlings maintained growth rates comparable to well fertilized samples. Treatment with B. bassiana had minor and inconsistent effects on some plant growth parameters, and there were significant interactive effects with arbuscular mycorrhizae. Phytochemical concentrations in all metabolite classes tested responded significantly to inoculation with both classes of fungal endophytes. Changes were observed in various pigments, caffeic acid derivatives, alkylamides, and terpenes. Many of the affected compounds have important roles in metabolism or have bioactive value as natural products. When considered from a net production perspective (concentration X dry weight), compared to controls, plants inoculated with endophytes produced as much as 30 times the content of some compounds in 12 weeks. This work effectively demonstrates that fungal endophytes can enhance the bioactivity of plant tissues and the production of natural products in E. purpurea.

Echinacea purpurea is a native herbaceous perennial with substantial economic value for its medicinal and ornamental qualities. Arbuscular mycorrhizae are symbiotic fungi that form relationships with plant roots and are known to enhance growth in the host. Mycorrhizae and other fungal endophytes often affect stress resistance and secondary metabolism in the host, as well as the ecology of other endophytes in the plant. A newly emerging paradigm in sustainable biotechnique is the targeted use of fungal endophytes to enhance growth and secondary metabolism in crops. Many of the therapeutic compounds in E. purpurea could be affected by fungal colonization. In this research the effects of inoculation of Echinacea purpurea with two classes of fungal endophytes: the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Glomus intraradices and Gigaspora margarita and the entomopathogenic endophyte Beauveria bassiana were evaluated . Endophyte colonization and impacts on plant growth and phytochemistry were tested in multiple greenhouse experiments. Arbuscular mycorrhizae and B. bassiana effectively colonized E. purpurea with some significant interactive effects. Consistent, substantial, and significant increases in all growth parameters were observed in mycorrhizal plants; mycorrhizal plants produced up to four times the biomass of controls in 12 weeks. Broad spectrum changes in fertilization were necessary to produce mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal samples of equal size, and severely nutrient-limited mycorrhizal E. purpurea seedlings maintained growth rates comparable to well fertilized samples. Treatment with B. bassiana had minor and inconsistent effects on some plant growth parameters, and there were significant interactive effects with arbuscular mycorrhizae. Phytochemical concentrations in all metabolite classes tested responded significantly to inoculation with both classes of fungal endophytes. Changes were observed in various pigments, caffeic acid derivatives, alkylamides, and terpenes. Many of the affected compounds have important roles in metabolism or have bioactive value as natural products. When considered from a net production perspective (concentration X dry weight), compared to controls, plants inoculated with endophytes produced as much as 30 times the content of some compounds in 12 weeks. This work effectively demonstrates that fungal endophytes can enhance the bioactivity of plant tissues and the production of natural products in E. purpurea.

The difference in the ability of plants to obtain resources has been used to predict the competition outcomes. Competitive interactions between plants can be influenced by trophic interactions. If mycorrhizae increase the growth of inferior competitors, then it can prevent competitive exclusion. I examined the effect of mycorrhizae on competitive interactions and found that inferior competitors had slow growth in the absence of mycorrhizae, but greater growth with mycorrhizae. By providing greater growth responses to inferior versus superior competitors, mycorrhizae promoted coexistence. In a separate experiment, I looked at the effects of whole soil biota on competitive ability. Coexistence can occur if dominant competitors experience negative feedback and or if inferior competitors experience positive feedback. I examined Plantago lanceolata L. specific feedback effects on competitive ability of 21 co-occurring species. I found that feedback effects did not affect hierarchies, and that positive feedback did not improve species competitive ability. / NSERC (Natural Science and Engineering Research Council), University of Guelph, Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship for Science and Technology

Tall fescue, a cool-season grass native to Europe, central Asia, and northern Africa, has been widely distributed throughout the U.S. for use as turf and forage. Following its widespread planting, its ability to associate with a toxic fungal endophyte, Neotyphodium coenophialum, was discovered. Research has linked this fescue-endophyte association with increased biotic and abiotic stress resistance in endophyte-infected (E+) versus endophyte-free (E-) plants, and these differences may affect the ability of land managers to eradicate tall fescue and restore native grasslands. I conducted three studies to examine whether E+ tall fescue plants respond differently to management than E- plants, and whether the success of planted native species might be impacted via indirect soil effects. My overall hypotheses were that E+ plants would recover from restoration/eradication efforts better than E- plants, and that E+ fescue would reduce microbial symbionts in the soil needed by planted native species. I first conducted a field study of a tall fescue pasture consisting of four sub-units being restored with different combinations of prescribed burns and/or herbicide applications, as well as an unmanaged control. I found no evidence of E+ plants preferentially surviving restoration management; however this field had unusually low endophyte infection rates to begin with. The second study was a greenhouse experiment in which I measured growth of E+ and E- plants exposed to different watering regimes (wet, dry) and prescribed burn treatments (none, one, or two burns). Watering regime significantly affected all measured growth parameters (wet>dry), but few endophyte effects were found and when present were opposite the hypothesis (E->E+). All burned plants quickly re-grew tiller lengths comparable to the unburned control, with recovery occurring faster following the second burn compared to the first. My final study examined growth and arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization of native species planted by seed into soil from beneath E+ and E- tall fescue. I observed few differences in mycorrhizal colonization or biomass for seedlings between soil from E+ and E- tall fescue. Taken together, my results indicate endophyte status of tall fescue pastures being restored to native grassland species may not be important in governing restoration success.