Potential Roles of Gypsophilic fungal endophytes at the Sevilleta LTER

Gypsophilic soils are mainly composed of calcium sulfate and plants in this environment form associations with a diverse community of mycorrhizal and other endophytic fungi.  The main objectives of this research was to describe main communities of fungi associated with gypsophilic plants at the Sevilleta LTER. We also evaluated the potential function of these endophytes using germination experiments.  Nine species of gypsophilic plants were collected at the Sevilleta in New Mexico. Microscopic analyses showed high colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal and dark septate fungi. Identification of fungal isolates using BLAST showed that dark septate fungi in the order Pleosporales were dominant. Alternaria sp. was the dominant taxa found in the leaves and Monosporascus canonballus was the dominant taxa found in the roots. Germination experiments using  commercial plants as a model showed mutualistic relationships for at least one fungal isolate in the order Pleosporales. Tomato and corn plants show significant differences in germination and growth rates. Fungi in these plants seem to play significant roles in nutrient adquision  and growth based on colonization rates and their effect on germination experiments.