Centennial Honors College
Western Illinois University
Undergraduate Research Day 2014
Poster Presentation
Verification of Genes Altered in Corn Plants to a Fungus
Dylan Pate, Bart Pienkowski, Matthew Pittner, and Angela Walker
Faculty Mentors: Richard Musser, Andrea Porras-Alfaro and Jason Tutor
Biology
Phialocephala fortinii is a common dark septate endophyte found in plant root systems
in many different ecosystems and plant hosts. This is also a common taxa found in
environments with extreme conditions such as the alpine tundra. The distribution of this
fungus has been widely studied however little is known how the plant responds to the
fungus at the molecular level. The purpose of this study is to identify genes that are
involved in the interaction of this fungus and corn plants. Corn seeds inoculated with a
strain of the fungus showed a significant increase in germination and growth with no
signs of physical pathogenesis. Microarray analysis of root and leaf tissue showed
plant defense gene stimulation in the roots suggesting biotic stress from the presence of
the fungus to control the fungus to avoid excessive growth or colonization of specific
tissues. Differential defense gene stimulation in the leaf tissue may have a role in
preventing potential attacks from other pathogens, competing fungal species, and
herbivores. Differential expression of genes involved with expansin, auxin and mitosis
supports the growth stimulation created by the fungus in in vitro conditions. Because
endophytes are an important component of fungal mycobiomes, P. fortinii may be a
good model for understanding dark septate fungal associations with plants.