Date of Award
5-11-2013
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Honors Thesis
Department
Biology
First Advisor
Nathaniel Hauck
Abstract
Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is a well-characterized defense mechanism in vascular plants where initial exposure to a pathogen induces resistance throughout the plant to subsequent attacks by a wide range of pathogens. A similar SAR-like mechanism has recently been documented in a nonvascular plant, the moss Amblysregium serpens, but it has not been thoroughly characterized. Currently only one pathogen, the oomycete Pythium irregulare, has been shown to trigger SAR in this or any other nonvascular plant. I have observed and characterized the interactions between A. serpens and two other alleged moss pathogens, the ascomycetes Acrosporium sympodiale and Botrytis cinerea. Using the novel culture system that was developed during previous studies in the Hauck lab, I aimed to determine if these fungi can trigger a similar SAR response in the moss. Finally, I planned to determine if the SAR response in moss results in resistance to a range of pathogens or if it is specific to the type of pathogen used in the primary inoculation. Due to the inability to infect A. serpens with these ascomycetes, the SAR response still remains uncharacterized and results in this research were inconclusive.
Recommended Citation
Tatara, Christina A., "Broad Spectrum Systemic Acquired Resistance in Amblystegium serpens" (2013). Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection. 226.
https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/ugtheses/226
Comments
Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is a well-characterized defense mechanism in vascular plants where initial exposure to a pathogen induces resistance throughout the plant to subsequent attacks by a wide range of pathogens. A similar SAR-like mechanism has recently been documented in a nonvascular plant, the moss Amblysregium serpens, but it has not been thoroughly characterized. Currently only one pathogen, the oomycete Pythium irregulare, has been shown to trigger SAR in this or any other nonvascular plant. I have observed and characterized the interactions between A. serpens and two other alleged moss pathogens, the ascomycetes Acrosporium sympodiale and Botrytis cinerea. Using the novel culture system that was developed during previous studies in the Hauck lab, I aimed to determine if these fungi can trigger a similar SAR response in the moss. Finally, I planned to determine if the SAR response in moss results in resistance to a range of pathogens or if it is specific to the type of pathogen used in the primary inoculation. Due to the inability to infect A. serpens with these ascomycetes, the SAR response still remains uncharacterized and results in this research were inconclusive.