Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, North Atlantic Coast CESU

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U.S. Geological Survey⿿s (USGS) Great Lakes Science Center is offering a funding opportunity for research on ⿿Truncating the Competitive Ability of Phragmites australis by Targeting Microbial Endophytes.⿝ In this project, will evaluate the role of microbial endophytes in enhancing the growth and stress tolerance of invasive Phragmites australis. Will further evaluate the potential to reduce the invasive character of Phragmites by inhibiting the symbiotic microbes of Phragmites using naturally occurring microbial inhibitors. The proposed initial work will be completed in one year, but follow up work is likely. Studies to be included in the project will answer the following questions: 1.) Do Phragmites endophytes suppress soil pathogens? 2.) Do Phragmites endophytes colonize and reduce competitiveness of distantly related competitor plants? 3.) Do endophytes of Phragmites provide increased phosphate or other nutrients to plants? 4.) Do ⿿great willow herb⿿ (Epilobium hirsutum) endophytes (or endophytes from other plant species) antagonize Phragmites australis seedlings? Can these bacteria be used as a bioherbicides to control Phragmites? 5.) Can reduce competiveness of Phragmites by inhibiting its endophytic bacteria? 6.) What are the interactions (communications) between endophytic bacteria and seedlings in early colonization events? If successful, this approach may provide a new model for combating invasive species by reducing the competitive abilities of plants through targeting their symbiotic associations using environmentally friendly compounds. This work is consistent with the overall science agenda (http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2015.00095/full) driving the multi-agency federal-academic Collaborative for Microbial Symbiosis and Phragmites Management.

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