Project description:Illumina HiSeq technology was used to generate mRNA profiles from Cenococcum geophilum ectomycorrhizal Pine roots, sclerotia and extramatrical mycelium compared to free-living mycelium . Ectomycorrhizal pine roots, sclerotia, extramatrical mycelium and control mycelium were harvested after 90 days and used for RNA extraction. Reads of 150bp were generated and aligned to the C. geophilum reference genome (https://genome.jgi.doe.gov/Cenge3/Cenge3.home.html).
Project description:Soil contamination by silver nanoparticles (AgNP) is of potential environmental concern but little work has been carried out on the effect of such contamination on ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF). EMF are essential to forest ecosystem functions as they are known to enhance growth of trees by nutrient transfer. In this study, soil was experimentally contaminated with AgNP (0, 350 and 790 mg Ag/kg) and planted with Bishop pine seedlings. The effect of AgNP was subsequently measured, assessing variation in pine growth and ectomycorrhizal diversity associated with the root system. After only 1 month, the highest AgNP level had significantly reduced the root length of pine seedlings, which in turn had a small effect on above ground plant biomass. However, after 4 months growth, both AgNP levels utilised had significantly reduced both pine root and shoot biomass. For example, even the lower levels of AgNP (350 mg Ag/kg) soil, reduced fresh root biomass by approximately 57 %. The root systems of the plants grown in AgNP-contaminated soils lacked the lateral and fine root development seen in the control plants (no AgNP). Although, only five different genera of EMF were found on roots of the control plants, only one genus Laccaria was found on roots of plants grown in soil containing 350 mg AgNP/kg. At the higher levels of AgNP contamination, no EMF were observed. Furthermore, extractable silver was found in soils containing AgNP, indicating potential dissolution of silver ions (Ag+) from the solid AgNP.
Project description:Global transcriptional analysis of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) is challenging due to limited molecular tools. PtGen2, a 26,496 feature cDNA microarray, was fabricated and used to assess drought-induced gene expression in loblolly pine propagule roots. Statistical analysis of differential expression and weighted gene correlation network analysis were used to identify drought-responsive genes and further characterize the molecular basis of drought tolerance in loblolly pine.
Project description:Illumina HiSeq technology was used to generate mRNA profiles from Cenococcum geophilum ectomycorrhizal poplar roots compared to free-living mycelium . Ectomycorrhizal poplar roots and control mycelium were harvested after 60 days and used for RNA extraction. Reads of 150bp were generated and aligned to the C. geophilum reference genome (https://genome.jgi.doe.gov/Cenge3/Cenge3.home.html).