THE FUNGAL MICROBIOME: Understanding seasonal and inoculation effects of Northern Highbush Blueberry
Conference Year
January 2022
Abstract
Plants host microbial communities inside and around the roots; these microbiome plays an important role in plant nutrition and productivity. In this study, we assess the fungal microbiome in Vaccinium corymbosum (Northern Highbush Blueberry) to understand the effects of mycorrhizal inoculation and seasonality. Using ITS Amplicon sequencing, PIPITS Bioinformatics, and computational biology, we are looking for fungal taxa that change in composition at different seasons. This may suggest that recruitment of beneficial taxa correlates with plant traits such as bud size or flower number. These data set the stage for future understanding on how microbial interactions belowground influence aboveground traits.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Jeanne M. Harris
Secondary Mentor Name
Stephen Keller, Alison Brody
Status
Graduate
Student College
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Program/Major
Plant Biology
Primary Research Category
Biological Sciences
THE FUNGAL MICROBIOME: Understanding seasonal and inoculation effects of Northern Highbush Blueberry
Plants host microbial communities inside and around the roots; these microbiome plays an important role in plant nutrition and productivity. In this study, we assess the fungal microbiome in Vaccinium corymbosum (Northern Highbush Blueberry) to understand the effects of mycorrhizal inoculation and seasonality. Using ITS Amplicon sequencing, PIPITS Bioinformatics, and computational biology, we are looking for fungal taxa that change in composition at different seasons. This may suggest that recruitment of beneficial taxa correlates with plant traits such as bud size or flower number. These data set the stage for future understanding on how microbial interactions belowground influence aboveground traits.