Abstract Detail

Mycological Section

Tobias, Terri [1], Dean, Sarah [2], Phippen, Winthrop [3], Gruver, Joel [3], Porras-Alfaro, Andrea [4].

A study of Glycine max (soybean) fungal communities under different agricultural practices.

Both Glycine max (soybean) and Thlaspi arvense (pennycress) are important oilseed crops. These species are valuable agricultural plants and potential resources for renewable biofuels and industrial products. Pennycress is a member of the Brassicaceae plant family and can be grown over the winter months in corn stubble fields as a potential cover crop helping prevent erosion. In addition, pennycress does not compete with food production making it a viable option for biofuels. The objectives of this study were to compare the fungal communities associated with soybean roots grown under organic and conventional farming practices and to determine the potential impact of pennycress on microbial communities when used as a cover crop prior to soybean. Roots were collected in the summer of 2013 and 2014 from three treatment plots (conventional soybeans, organic soybeans, and soybeans following pennycress) at the Western Illinois University experimental farms. Roots were sequenced with fungal primers using 454 pyrosequencing and a total of 227,505 sequences were obtained. The most dominant fungal phylum in all plot treatments was Ascomycota. Preliminary results suggest no differences in fungal community composition in relation to farming practices but potential differences in plant hosts. Soybean roots in all treatments were dominated by the order Hypocreales with the most abundant species being Fusarium. Pennycress roots were dominated by the fungal order Eurotiales with the most abundant species being Penicillium citreonigrum. Microbial diversity is a key component of soil health and soil microorganisms provide a wide variety of services to plant communities. Understanding these interactions and the potential effects on agricultural practices could provide important insights on plant health and management.

1 - Western Illinois University, Biological Sciences, 1 University Ave, Macomb, IL, 61455, USA
2 - University of New Mexico, Biological Sciences, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
3 - Western Illinois University, School of Agriculture, Macomb, IL, 61455, USA
4 - Western Illinois University, Biological Sciences, 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL, 61455, USA

Keywords:
454 pyrosequencing
Fungi
soybeans
pennycress.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Hall D/The Shaw Conference Centre
Date: Monday, July 27th, 2015
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PMY060
Abstract ID:1047
Candidate for Awards:MSA Best Poster Presentation Award by a Graduate Student