2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase
The Effect of Plant Diversity on Fungal Colonization in Sagebrush Seedlings
Document Type
Student Presentation
Presentation Date
4-15-2025
Faculty Sponsor
Dr. Marie-Anne de Graaff
Abstract
Introductory sentences/Background:
Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) is a native plant species found in arid and high deserts. The sagebrush steppe serves as a habitat to many native Idaho plant and animal species. The sagebrush steppe plant community consists of various species of sagebrush, perennial bunchgrasses, forbs and other shrub species.
A thriving sagebrush steppe is a key component to ecosystems in the Western United States by maintaining soil integrity, the hydrologic cycle, while also supporting recreational opportunities, livestock grazing, and holding cultural significance to tribal communities in the West.
It is known ( that ecosystems which are more biodiverse have greater long term function, are more resilient, and have higher recovery rates. Increasing plant biodiversity has also been known to increase the soil microbial diversity, including archaea, bacteria, and the main focus of this article - fungi. This positive feedback loop entails multiple different plant species secreting different amounts and qualities of root exudates which provide nutrients to diverse mutualistic fungal communities. A more microbially diverse soil promotes further root exudation and the beneficial cycle continues.
Problem statement:
The sagebrush steppe is a threatened and diminishing ecosystem; approximately 1.3 million acres are lost per year (NPS). There are several factors that contribute to the shrinkage of the sagebrush steppe. Wildfires are the largest contributors, as well as anthropogenic changes, poorly managed livestock grazing methods, invasive species, and drought in the Intermountain West. Sagebrush remediation methods often have low success rates due to its naturally high mortality rates.
However, little is known about the effect of plant species diversity on fungal colonization in hopes to create recovery management strategies.
Question:
We ask, how does plant species diversity impact fungal colonization in sagebrush seedlings?
Methods:
The field site is in Southern Idaho close to Brunuea, Idaho. In summer 2019 the Pothole fire completely decimated a thriving steppe, resulting in an unrecognizable barren landscape. Three months later, there were three-level plant diversity gradients seeded in hopes of sagebrush restoration. These treatment gradients included: (1) two native species [one grass, one forb], (2) four native species [two grasses, two forbs], and (3) eight native species [4 grasses, 4 forbs]. Species were randomly selected. Two control groups were established; including six non-seeded plots, and six monoculture plots seeded with Agropyron cristatum, also known as crested wheatgrass. Each treatment was replicated 12 times, resulting in 60 plots total in the field.
To examine the differences in soil microbial communities according to different diversity treatments, a controlled greenhouse experiment was conducted. Soil was collected and combined from the 48 seeded plots to make a common sterilized soil to reduce variability of soil chemical properties and ensure the soil microbial community is the only variable influencing native seedling establishment.
Soil inoculum was collected from “live soil” samples from each treatment, consisting of 10% of the total common soil weight each. This resulted in 48 pots that were later seeded with native sagebrush seedlings in the greenhouse.
The seedlings grew for approximately 3 months in the greenhouse, the roots were then harvested, stained, plated and viewed under a microscope for fungal colonization, specifically arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) structures, and dark septate endophyte (DSE) structures. Fungal DNA and RNA was recovered from homogenized soil samples using the RNA PowerSoil Total RNA Isolation Kit and DNA elution buffer from MoBio. ITS1F and ITS4 primers were used to target the fungal species present.
Results:
I am waiting on results from my mentor. I will upload a final abstract to my poster.
Recommended Citation
Ronhovdee, Kali; de Graaff, Marie-Anne; and Santosuosso, Sierra, "The Effect of Plant Diversity on Fungal Colonization in Sagebrush Seedlings" (2025). 2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase. 12.
https://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/under_showcase_2025/12