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Abstract Detail


Symbioses: Plant, Animal, and Microbe Interactions

Bowler, Rebecca [1], Fredeen, Arthur [1], Massicotte, Hugues [1].

Investigation of carbon gain of autotrophic, mixotrophic and myco-heterotrophic species at three sites in north-central British Columbia.

Most terrestrial vascular plants rely to some degree on mycorrhizal fungi for obtaining mineral nutrition. A subset of these plants also rely on their mycorrhizal partner(s) for some (mixotrophy) or all/most (myco-heterotrophy) of their carbon. Many pyroloids (Pyroleae tribe of the Ericaceae family) and some green orchids (Orchidaceae) are mixotrophs. By contrast, leafless orchids of the genus Corallorhiza are thought to be exclusively myco-heterotrophic. We conducted a pilot project where we assessed the photosynthetic competence of autotrophic, mixotrophic and myco-heterotrophic species growing in sub-boreal forests of north-central British Columbia. Gas exchange properties of each species were non-destructively measured in situ at least once a month during the growing season (May to September) of 2011 using a portable gas exchange system (model LI-6400, LiCor Inc.). Individuals of these species were also replanted in the Enhanced Forestry Lab at UNBC for further analysis. After approximately one month of acclimation to non-forest light levels, light response curves of each sample were measured using the same methods as in situ measurements with the exception of an artificial light source. We will highlight the current implications of our results and our future plans for this study.

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1 - University Of Northern British Columbia, Ecosystem Science And Management Program, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC, V2N 4Z9, Canada

Keywords:
mixotrophy
mycoheterotrophy
orchids
Pyroloids
photosynthesis.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Topics
Session: P
Location: Khorassan Ballroom/Chase Park Plaza
Date: Monday, July 11th, 2011
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PSB001
Abstract ID:493


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