Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Master of Science (MS)
Major/Program
Environmental Studies
First Advisor's Name
Krish Jayachandran
First Advisor's Committee Title
Co-Major Professor
Second Advisor's Name
Eric von Wettberg
Second Advisor's Committee Title
Co-Major Professor
Third Advisor's Name
Suzanne Koptur
Keywords
Rhizobia, Legumes, Pine Rocklands, Salinity, Microbial Biogeography, Bradyrhizobium spp., Cajanus cajan, Chamaecrista fasciculata, Tephrosia angustissima, Abrus precatorious, nifH
Date of Defense
3-28-2014
Abstract
Pine rocklands are endangered ecosystems unique to south Florida, the Bahamas and Cuba. As a result of their karstic calcium carbonaterich soil, these systems are limited in phosphorus and nitrogen, making symbiotic associations critical to plant growth. Four leguminous species (Cajanus cajan, Chamaecrista fasciculata, Tephrosia angustissima, and Abrus precatorious) were used to determine the relationship between rhizobial partners and plant performance, and the symbiosis related gene nifH was amplified to characterize the diversity of rhizobial symbionts. Plants were grown in soils from four different south Florida pine rocklands, and a salinity treatment was added to determine how storm surge and sea level rise could affect this symbiotic relationship. While plant performance and nodulation were highly impacted by soil type, salinity did not represent a significant effect. Phylogenetic analysis determined that all four plant species were found to associate with Bradyrhizobium spp. and no rhizobial shift between salinity treatment and soil type was found.
Identifier
FI14040823
Recommended Citation
Sánchez, Vanessa, "Characterization of Rhizobial Diversity and Relationship of Rhizobial Partner and Legume Performance in Four South Florida Pine Rockland Soils" (2014). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1124.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/1124
Included in
Environmental Microbiology and Microbial Ecology Commons, Genetics Commons, Molecular Genetics Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Population Biology Commons
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