Abstract Detail

Symbioses: Plant, Animal, and Microbe Interactions

Cohen, Jim [1], Cribari, Molly [2], Ruane, Lauren [3].

Comparative analyses of the soil microbiome of Phlox hirsuta (Polemoniaceae), a rare serpentine species.

Phlox hirsuta, the Yreka Phlox, is a threatened species native to northern California. The species is restricted to five populations, all of which occur on serpentine soil. Given the small number of populations and the edaphic specialization of the species, the viability and longevity of the populations is an important area of study. Multiple factors influence the growth and germination of individual plants of P. hirsuta, and the amount of growth of an individual plant can fluctuate from year to year. One overlooked aspect of plant growth, in this species, is the soil microbiome, and examining this can shed light on the role of this underground component, in plant growth. To understand the influence the soil microbiome plays in plant growth for this rare species, soil was sampled near a total of 64 individuals from two populations of P. hirsuta (Cracker Gulch and Greenhorn) for individuals of various sizes and amounts of growth among years, and the 16S locus was sequenced using 150 base-pair paired-end reads. The resulting reads were analyzed, with QIIME 2, using multiple methodologies to investigate species richness and diversity and differential abundance. While differences in microbial species abundance are observed among individuals with various amounts of growth between years, greater differences are observed between samples of the two sites. This suggests that the type of ecosystem has greater influence on plant size or amount of growth than the soil microbiome of P. hirsuta does. While both Cracker Gulch and Greenhorn have serpentine soil, the plant composition and physiography differ, providing evidence that other factors apart from microbial diversity appear to have a larger impact on limiting or promoting plant growth from year to year.

1 - Kettering University, 1700 University Ave., Flint, MI, 48503.0, United States
2 - Humboldt State University
3 - Christopher Newport University, Organismal And Environmntal Biology, 1 Avenue Of The Arts, Newport News, VA, 23606, United States

Keywords:
serpentine
Phlox
California
16S
Microbiome.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P, Symbioses: Plant, Animal, and Microbe Interactions Posters
Location: Arizona Ballroom/Starr Pass
Date: Monday, July 29th, 2019
Time: 5:30 PM This poster will be presented at 5:30 pm. The Poster Session runs from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Posters with odd poster numbers are presented at 5:30 pm, and posters with even poster numbers are presented at 6:15 pm.
Number: PSM003
Abstract ID:369
Candidate for Awards:None