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.¿ This project will evaluate the use of non-toxic treatments to reduce the invasive character of Phragmites by interfering with symbiosis between endophytic microbes and host plant Phragmites. The strategy has three linked components: 1) stimulate the plant microbiome to become virulent or otherwise overgrow, thus killing the host; 2) interfere with plant-root microbial signaling in the soil so that root-microbe symbiosis does not establish and the plant's growth is reduced; and 3) apply endophytic/saprophytic fungi to post-treated plants to facilitate death and degradation of standing plant material and remediate the site for growth of native vegetation. The first component will turn the microbiome against the plant by applying sugars and organic acids with adjuvants (oils and surfactant). The non-toxic adjuvents will breakdown waxy cuticle barriers, and the sugars will overload the Carbon:Nitrogen ratio and stimulate use of nitrogen aboveground and below ground by endophytes. The increased microbial activity will cause a crash in nitrogen and other nutrients available to the plant, thus killing the invasive plant. The second component targets the plant-microbe signaling system since carbohydrates are thought to disrupt this system. Liquid carbohydrates applied to the aboveground biomass (component 1) will fall to the soil and begin interfering with the normal symbiotic relationships belowground. The third component of the strategy is intended to accelerate harm to the invasive plants. Testing of spray application of fungal endophyte/saprophyte suspensions to bioherbicide treated plants are anticipated to increase the rate of plant death and decomposition. Reduced dead biomass after treatment may prepare the site for rapid return of native vegetation. 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.201 5.00095/full) driving the multi-agency federal-academic Collaborative for Microbial Symbiosis and Phragmites Management.

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