TY - JOUR T1 - Common garden experiments disentangle plant genetic and environmental contributions to ectomycorrhizal fungal community structure. JF - New Phytologist Y1 - 2018 A1 - Patterson, A.M. A1 - Flores-Rentería, L. A1 - A.V. Whipple A1 - Whitham, T.G. A1 - Gehring, C.A. AB -
The interactions among climate change, plant genetic variation and fungal mutualists are poorly understood, but probably important to plant survival under drought. We examined these interactions by studying the ectomycorrhizal fungal (EMF) communities of pinyon pine seedlings (Pinus edulis) planted in a wildland ecosystem experiencing two decades of climate change‐related drought We established a common garden containing P. edulis seedlings of known maternal lineages (drought tolerant, DT; drought intolerant, DI), manipulated soil moisture and measured EMF community structure and seedling growth. Three findings emerged: EMF community composition differed at the phylum level between DT and DI seedlings, and diversity was two‐fold greater in DT than in DI seedlings. EMF communities of DT seedlings did not shift with water treatment and were dominated by an ascomycete, Geopora sp. By contrast, DI seedlings shifted to basidiomycete dominance with increased moisture, demonstrating a lineage by environment interaction. DT seedlings grew larger than DI seedlings in high (28%) and low (50%) watering treatments. These results show that inherited plant traits strongly influence microbial communities, interacting with drought to affect seedling performance. These interactions and their potential feedback effects may influence the success of trees, such as P. edulis, in future climates.
VL - 221 UR - https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nph.15352 IS - 1 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - High temperature at lower elevation sites fails to promote acclimation or adaptation to heat stress during pollen germination. JF - Frontiers in Plant Science Y1 - 2018 A1 - Flores-Rentería, L. A1 - Whipple, A.V., A1 - Benally, G.J. A1 - Patterson, A.M. A1 - Canyon, B. A1 - Gehring, C.A. AB -High temperatures associated with climate change are expected to be detrimental for aspects of plant reproduction, such as pollen viability. We hypothesized that (1) higher peak temperatures predicted with climate change would have a minimal effect on pollen viability, while high temperatures during pollen germination would negatively affect pollen viability, (2) high temperatures during pollen dispersal would facilitate acclimation to high temperatures during pollen germination, and (3) pollen from populations at sites with warmer average temperatures would be better adapted to high temperature peaks. We tested these hypotheses in Pinus edulis, a species with demonstrated sensitivity to climate change, using populations along an elevational gradient. We tested for acclimation to high temperatures by measuring pollen viability during dispersal and germination stages in pollen subjected to 30, 35, and 40°C in a factorial design. We also characterized pollen phenology and measured pollen heat tolerance using trees from nine sites along a 200 m elevational gradient that varied 4°C in temperature. We demonstrated that this gradient is biologically meaningful by evaluating variation in vegetation composition and P. edulis performance. Male reproduction was negatively affected by high temperatures, with stronger effects during pollen germination than pollen dispersal. Populations along the elevational gradient varied in pollen phenology, vegetation composition, plant water stress, nutrient availability, and plant growth. In contrast to our hypothesis, pollen viability was highest in pinyons from mid-elevation sites rather than from lower elevation sites. We found no evidence of acclimation or adaptation of pollen to high temperatures. Maximal plant performance as measured by growth did not occur at the same elevation as maximal pollen viability. These results indicate that periods of high temperature negatively affected sexual reproduction, such that even high pollen production may not result in successful fertilization due to low germination. Acquired thermotolerance might not limit these impacts, but pinyon could avoid heat stress by phenological adjustment of pollen development. Higher pollen viability at the core of the distribution could be explained by an optimal combination of biotic and abiotic environmental factors. The disconnect between measures of growth and pollen production suggests that vigor metrics may not accurately estimate reproduction.
VL - 9 UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2018.00536/full ER - TY - JOUR T1 - The role of hybridization during ecological divergence of southwestern white pine (Pinus strobiformis) and limber pine (P. flexilis) JF - Molecular Ecology Y1 - 2018 A1 - Mitra Menon A1 - Justin C. Bagley A1 - Christopher J. Friedline A1 - Amy V. Whipple A1 - Anna W. Schoettle A1 - Alejandro Leal-Saenz A1 - Christian Wehenkel A1 - Francisco Molina-Freaner A1 - Lluvia Flores-Renterıa A1 - M. Socorro Gonzalez-Elizondo A1 - Richard A. Sniezko A1 - Samuel A. Cushman A1 - Kristen M. Waring A1 - Andrew J. Eckert KW - conifers KW - ecological speciation KW - extrinsic barriers KW - hybrid zone KW - introgression KW - population genomics AB -Interactions between extrinsic factors, such as disruptive selection and intrinsic factors,
such as genetic incompatibilities among loci, often contribute to the maintenance
of species boundaries. The relative roles of these factors in the establishment
of reproductive isolation can be examined using species pairs characterized by gene
flow throughout their divergence history. We investigated the process of speciation
and the maintenance of species boundaries between Pinus strobiformis and Pinus
flexilis. Utilizing ecological niche modelling, demographic modelling and genomic
cline analyses, we illustrated a divergence history with continuous gene flow. Our
results supported an abundance of advanced generation hybrids and a lack of loci
exhibiting steep transition in allele frequency across the hybrid zone. Additionally,
we found evidence for climate-associated variation in the hybrid index and niche
divergence between parental species and the hybrid zone. These results are consistent
with extrinsic factors, such as climate, being an important isolating mechanism.
A build-up of intrinsic incompatibilities and of coadapted gene complexes is also
apparent, although these appear to be in the earliest stages of development. This
supports previous work in coniferous species demonstrating the importance of extrinsic factors in facilitating speciation. Overall, our findings lend support to the
hypothesis that varying strength and direction of selection pressures across the long
lifespans of conifers, in combination with their other life history traits, delays the
evolution of strong intrinsic incompatibilities.
Waring, K, Cushman, S, Eckert A, Flores Renteria, L, Sniezko, R, Still,C, Wehenkel, C, Whipple, A, and Wing, M. 2017. A holistic approach to genetic conservation in Pinus strobiformis. International Scientific Conference on Genetics of Populations: Progress and Perspectives, commemorating the 80th birthday of Academician Yury P. Altukhov and dedicated to the 45th Anniversary of the Laboratory of Population Genetics named after Yu. P. Altukhov, 17-21 April 2017, Zvenogorod Biological Station, Russia.
JF - International Scientific Conference on Genetics of Populations Progress and Perspectives commemorating the 80th birthday of Academician Altukhov and dedicated to the 45th Anniversary of the Laboratory of Population Genetics named after Yu P Biological Sta T3 - International Scientific Conference on Genetics of Populations Progress and Perspectives commemorating the 80th birthday of Academician Altukhov and dedicated to the 45th Anniversary of the Laboratory of Population Genetics named after Yu P Biological Sta CY - Zvenogorod Biological Station, Russia VL - 2017 N1 - [Original String]:Waring, K, Cushman, S, Eckert A, Flores Renteria, L, Sniezko, R, Still, C, Wehenkel, C, Whipple, A, and Wing, M. 2017. A holistic approach to genetic conservation in Pinus strobiformis. International Scientific Conference on Genetics of Populations: Progress and Perspectives, commemorating the 80th birthday of Academician Yury P. Altukhov and dedicated to the 45th Anniversary of the Laboratory of Population Genetics named after Yu. P. Altukhov, 17-21 April 2017, Zvenogorod Biological Station, Russia. ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Tree genetics defines fungal partner communities that may confer drought tolerance. JF - PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Y1 - 2017 A1 - Gehring, C.A. A1 - Sthultz, C.M. A1 - Flores-Rentería, L. A1 - A.V. Whipple A1 - T.G. Whitham AB -Plant genetic variation and soil microorganisms are individually known to influence plant responses to climate change, but the interactive effects of these two factors are largely unknown. Using long-term observational studies in the field and common garden and greenhouse experiments of a foundation tree species (Pinus edulis) and its mutualistic ectomycorrhizal fungal (EMF) associates, we show that EMF community composition is under strong plant genetic control. Seedlings acquire the EMF community of their seed source trees (drought tolerant vs. drought intolerant), even when exposed to inoculum from the alternate tree type. Drought-tolerant trees had 25% higher growth and a third the mortality of drought-intolerant trees over the course of 10 y of drought in the wild, traits that were also observed in their seedlings in a common garden. Inoculation experiments show that EMF communities are critical to drought tolerance. Drought-tolerant and drought-intolerant seedlings grew similarly when provided sterile EMF inoculum, but drought-tolerant seedlings grew 25% larger than drought-intolerant seedlings under dry conditions when each seedling type developed its distinct EMF community. This demonstration that particular combinations of plant genotype and mutualistic EMF communities improve the survival and growth of trees with drought is especially important, given the vulnerability of forests around the world to the warming and drying conditions predicted for the future.
VL - 114 UR - https://www.pnas.org/content/114/42/11169 IS - 42 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Cheatgrass invasion alters the abundance and composition of dark septate fungal communities in sagebrush steppe. JF - Botany Y1 - 2016 A1 - CA Gehring A1 - Hayer,M A1 - L Flores-Renteria A1 - Krohn,AL A1 - Schwartz,E A1 - P Dijkstra AB - Invasive, non-native plant species can alter soil microbial communitiesin ways that contribute to their persistence. While most studies emphasize mycorrhizal fungi, invasive plants also may influence communities of dark septate fungi (DSF), which are common root endophytes that can function like mycorrhizas. We tested the hypothesis that a widespread invasive plant in the western United States, cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.), influenced the abundance and community composition of DSF by examining the roots and rhizosphere soils of cheatgrass and two native plant species in cheatgrass-invaded and noninvaded areas of sagebrush steppe. We focused on cheatgrass because it is negatively affected by mycorrhizal fungi and colonized by DSF. We found that DSF root colonization and operational taxonomic unit (OTU) richness were significantly higher in sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.) and rice grass (Achnatherum hymenoides (Roem. & Schult.) Barkworth) from invaded areas than noninvaded areas. Cheatgrass roots had similar levels of DSF colonization and OTU richness as native plants. The community composition of DSF varied with invasion in the roots and soils of native species and among the roots of the three plant species in the invaded areas. The substantial changes in DSF we observed following cheatgrass invasion argue for comparative studies of DSF function in native and non-native plant species. VL - 9 IS - 6 N1 - [Original String]:Gehring, C. A., Hayer, M. Flores-Renteria, L. Krohn, A. L., Schwartz, E. and Dijkstra, P. (In press). Cheatgrass invasion alters the abundance and composition of dark septate fungal communities in sagebrush steppe. Botany. ER - TY - CONF T1 - Collaborative research for sustainable management of southwestern white pine. T2 - Society of American Foresters National Convention Y1 - 2016 A1 - K Waring A1 - Cushman,S A1 - Eckert,A A1 - L Flores-Renteria A1 - Lintz,H A1 - R Sniezko A1 - Still,C A1 - Wehenkel,C A1 - AV Whipple A1 - Wing,M AB -
Waring, K., Cushman, S., Eckert, A., Flores-Renteria, L., Lintz, H.,Sniezko, R., Still, C., Wehenkel, C., Whipple, A., and Wing, M. 2016. Collaborative research for sustainable management of southwestern white pine. Society of American Foresters National Convention, November 2-5, 2016, Madison, WI.
Although the eco-evolutionary dynamics of multicellular organisms are intertwined with the microorganisms that colonize them, there is only a rudimentary understanding of how a host's genotype influences its microbiome. We utilize Populus angustifolia to test whether communities of essential symbionts, ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF), vary among host genotypes. Further, we test whether EMF communities covary among tree genotypes with the chemistry of senescent leaves and aboveground biomass, traits important to tree fitness, and carbon and nutrient cycling. We found: 1) EMF composition, colonization and the Basidiomycota to Ascomycota ratio varied among tree genotypes (broad-sense heritability = 0.10–0.25). 2) EMF composition did not covary among genotypes with aboveground biomass but it did covary with senescent leaf chemistry (rho = 0.29), primarily due to a single genotype. These findings demonstrate a link between tree genotype and EMF communities, which has implications for fungal diversity, host-symbiont interactions and aboveground-belowground linkages in ecological and evolutionary contexts.
VL - 24 UR - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1754504816300563 IS - Part B ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Plant genetics and interspecific competitive interactions determine ectomycorrhizal fungal community responses to climate change . JF - Molecular Ecology Y1 - 2013 A1 - CA Gehring A1 - Flores-Rentería,D A1 - CM Sthultz A1 - Leonard,TM A1 - L Flores-Renteria A1 - AV Whipple A1 - TG Whitham VL - 23 N1 - [Original String]:Gehring CA, Flores-Rentería D, Sthultz CM, Leonard TM, Flores-Rentería L, Whipple AV, Whitham TG. 2013. Plant genetics and interspecific competitive interactions determine ectomycorrhizal fungal community responses to climate change . Molecular Ecology 23:1379-1391. ER -