Abstract Detail

Genetics/Molecular Biology

Grubisha, Lisa [1], Dowie, Nicholas [2], Miller, Steven [2], Brewer, Jessica [1], Nelson, Bailey [1], Trowbridge, Steven [2], Klooster, Matthew [1].

Conservation genetic study of Rhizopogon kretzerae and Pterospora andromedea populations in eastern North America.

Conservation biologists use estimates of genetic diversity as an indication of the ability of populations to adapt to changing environmental conditions. For rare or endangered species genetic diversity plays an important role in population viability versus extinction.  Rhizopogon kretzerae is the first R. subgenus Amylopogon species described from eastern North America and has only been identified from mycorrhizal roots of the mycoheterotrophic plant Pterospora andromedea and Pinus strobus. Eastern North America populations of P. andromedea are considered to be rare to endangered and have undergone recent decreases in population size and possible local extinction due to changing environmental conditions and other anthropogenic factors. Presently R. kretzerae may be considered a rare species due to the lack of information on the distribution with P. strobus in the absence of P. andromedea and potential additional Pinus hosts. However, there are no known annotated herbarium records of basidiocarps. Ninety-two P. andromedea rootball and stem bract samples were collected from nine sites in the US and Canada. Population genetic analyses were conducted using 14 polymorphic microsatellite loci in R. kretzerae and 13 loci in P. andromedea that were isolated from contigs assembled from 454 FLX-GS Titanium shotgun pyrosequencing and Illumina MiSeq sequencing, respectively. In this study we increased our understanding of the distribution of R. kretzerae by providing the first records from five populations in Canada’s Quebec Province. Results from co-population genetic analyses of R. kretzerae and P. andromedea will provide insight into the status of neutral genetic variation and evolutionary potential of these populations and baseline data to conservation managers.

1 - Centre College, Biology, 600 West Walnut Street, Danville, KY, 40422, USA
2 - University of Wyoming, Botany, 1000 E. University Ave, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA

Keywords:
mycoheterotrophic plants
ectomycorrhizal fungi
rare fungi
conservation genetics.

Presentation Type: Offered Paper - Paper
Session: 4
Location: Auditorium/Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center
Date: Monday, June 9th, 2014
Time: 1:00 PM
Number: 4001
Abstract ID:46
Candidate for Awards:None