Short-term Visitor

Influence of photosynthetic capacity on the evolution of plant fungal interactions.

PI(s): Hafiz Maherali (University of Guelph (CANADA))
Start Date: 15-Sep-2011
End Date: 15-Dec-2011
Keywords: adaptation, coevolution, ecology, phylogenetics, physiology

A large majority of angiosperms form mutualistic associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which provide plants with nutrient uptake services in return for sugars from photosynthesis. However, evolutionary theory suggests that there should be strong selection for each partner to exploit the other. One way that a mutualism could be reinforced is if enhanced nutrient uptake stimulates plant photosynthesis in excess of the carbon demands of the fungus. Alternatively, plants with high photosynthetic capacity may be more likely to derive benefits from the interaction through luxury carbon donation to the fungus. I will use published information and phylogenetic comparative methods to test the hypothesis that the evolution of a stronger mutualism between plants and fungi is associated with the magnitude of photosynthetic stimulation and/or increased photosynthetic capacity.

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Presentations
  • Maherali H. Invited talk. July 5, 2012. Phylogenies, functional trait evolution and community assembly: perspectives from the plant-fungal symbiosis. Mountain Lake Biological Station & Department of Biology, University of Virginia.
  • Maherali H. Invited Talk. March 23, 2012. Phylogenies, functional trait evolution and community assembly: perspectives from the plant-fungal symbiosis. Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
  • Maherali H. Invited talk. January 24, 2012. Phylogenies, functional trait evolution and community assembly: perspectives from the plant-fungal symbiosis. Department of Plant Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.
  • Maherali H. Invited Talk. February 17, 2012. Phylogenies, functional trait evolution and community assembly: perspectives from the plant-fungal symbiosis. University Program in Ecology, Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC.