Fungal Endophytes in Asclepias Public

Abstract

Interest in the ecological importance and presence of fungal endophytes, generally non-pathogenic fungi that live inside plant tissues, has increased among scientists in recent years. Studies of endophytes in plants from the equator to the arctic, and from tropical trees to agricultural grasses, demonstrate the remarkably widespread nature of fungal endophyte infection. This thesis project focuses on the cultivation and identification of fungal foliar endophytes, fungal endophytes found growing within leaves, in four Asclepias (milkweed) species: A. curassavica, A. incarnata, A. syriaca, and A. tuberosa. Incidence and prevalence of endophytes, as well as composition of the fungal endophyte communities in the four species are compared and discussed. Results indicate a diverse community of fungal foliar endophytes within the leaves for Asclepias. I discuss the implications for milkweed-herbivore interactions.

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………1
Methods……………………………………………………..…………………………………….7
Table 1………………………………………………………………………………..……...7-8
Table 2………………………………………………………………………………….…53-54
Table 3…………………………………………………………………………………….54-58
Example 1…………………………………………………………………………………….13
Results…………………………………………………………………………………………...15
Figure 1………………………………………………………………………………………15
Figure 2……………………………………………………………………………………....18
Figure 3………………………………………………………………………………………19
Figure 4………………………………………………………………………………………20
Figure 5………………………………………………………………………………………21
Figure 6………………………………………………………………………………………22
Table 4………………………………………………………………………..…………..22-24
Figure 7………………………………………………………………………………………25
Figure 8………………………………………………………………………………………27
Figure 9………………………………………………………………………………………29
Figure 10……………………………………………………………………….…………….31
Figure 11……………………………………………………………………………………..31
Figure 12……………………………………………………………………………………..32
Figure 13……………………………………………………………………………………..33
Figure 14……………………………………………………………………………………..35
TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)
Discussion…………………………………………………………………………...…………..36
Conclusions……………………………………………………………………………………..46
References…………………………………………………………………………………..47-51
Appendix A……………………………………………………………………………………..52
Appendix B…………………………………………………………………………………53-58
Appendix C………………………………………………………………………………….59-61

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	Biology
Degree	BS
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Biology, Botany Biology, Ecology Biology, General
Mot-clé	Fungal Monarch Fungus Asclepias Endophytes Milkweed
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Gerardo, Nicole Marie, Emory University
Committee Members	Brosi, Berry J, Emory University De Roode, Jacobus, Emory University

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