Abstract Detail

Mycological Section

Robinson, Aaron J. [1], Hutchinson, Miriam [1], Natvig, Donald O. [1].

A Genetic Analysis of Growth Characteristics Among Mesophilic and Thermophilic Members of the Sordariales.

Understanding the genetics of temperature responses in filamentous fungi has important implications for ecology, cell biology and industry. We are comparing the growth characteristics of fungal strains from varying latitudes and elevations in an attempt to identify candidate strains for genetic analysis. We are employing the mesophile Neurospora discreta and the thermophile Myceliopthera heterothallica, both members of the Sordariales with fully sequenced genomes. Race-tube experiments show differences between the maximal growth temperatures (MGT) of N. discreta strains from New Mexico and Alaska, as well as among M. heterothallica strains from Germany, Indiana, and New Mexico. These experiments are also providing interesting insight as to whether there is variance in optimal growth temperatures across strains from various geographical locations. We are now attempting to quantify differences in these growth characteristics by utilizing ratios of growth rates at two varying temperature ranges. Once a scoring system is established, we will determine whether differences in MGT segregate among progeny from crosses of these strains, toward the goal of using genomic approaches to identify the genes responsible.

1 - University of New Mexico, Department of Biology, Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, United States

Keywords:
Neurospora
genetics
Myceliopthera 
Growth
Thermophile.

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: PMY026
Abstract ID:570
Candidate for Awards:Genetics Section Poster Award,MSA Best Poster Presentation Award by a Graduate Student