Sex-Specific Variation in the Interaction Between Distichlis Spicata (Poaceae) and Mycorrhizal Fungi
Sponsor
Research was supported by the National Science Foundation (DEB 0743461 to S.E.).
Published In
American Journal of Botany
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-1-2009
Subjects
Sexual dimorphism (Plants), Grasses -- Reproduction, Salt marsh plants, Mycorrhizas, Symbiosis
Abstract
Associations between mycorrhizal fungi and plants can influence intraspecific competition and shape plant population structure. While variation in plant genotypes is known to affect mycorrhizal colonization in crop systems, little is known about how genotypes affect colonization in natural plant populations or how plant sex might influence colonization with mycorrhizal fungi in plant species with dimorphic sexual systems. In this study, we analyzed mycorrhizal colonization in males and females of the wetland dioecious grass Distichlis spicata, which has spatially segregated sexes. Our results suggest that D. spicata males and females interact with mycorrhizal fungi differently. We discuss the implications for the role of this sex-specific symbiotic interaction in the maintenance of the within-population sex ratio bias of D. spicata.
DOI
10.3732/ajb.0900076
Persistent Identifier
http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/8580
Citation Details
Eppley, S. M, Mercer, C. A., Haaning, C., Graves, C. B. 2009. Sex-specific variation in the interaction between Distichlis spicata (Poaceae) and mycorrhizal fungi. American Journal of Botany 96: 1967-1973
Supplementary Data
Description
This is the publisher's final PDF. Originally appeared in the American Journal of Botany, published by the American Botanical Society. Article can be found at http://www.amjbot.org/content/96/11/1967.full.