Jessic
a Loeffler
Master’s Thesis Defense
Advisors: Dr. Andrew Wilson, Dr. Michael Greene, and Dr. Sara Branco
When: November 21, 2025 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Where: Science Building, Room 2001
Join Zoom Meeting: https://ucdenver.zoom.us/j/98409192103 Meeting ID: 984 0919 2103 or Join by SIP • 98409192103@zoomcrc.com
Comparing the Fungal Communities of Two Mycoheterotrophic Pyroloids (P. asarifolia and C. umbellata)
Mycoheterotrophic plants rely on fungi for sustenance. There is a gradient of reliance plants can exhibit; from autotrophic to fully mycoheterotrophic. Within the Pyroleae subfamily, all plants are initially mycoheterotrophic, but at maturity some are partially mycoheterotrophic, and some are autotrophic. Previous studies have noted high fungal diversity associated with partially mycoheterotrophic plants, but it is unknown how that fungal diversity is impacted by trophic status. This proposal investigates the fungal communities of two Pyroloids, Pyrola asarifolia and Chimaphila umbellata. Both are initially mycoheterotrophic, requiring fungi to germinate, but P. asarifolia is partially mycoheterotrophic at maturity, while C. umbellata is autotrophic at maturity. Fungal DNA was extracted from the roots of both plants (to determine fungal associates), and soil samples taken from the plots where plants were collected (to determine which mycorrhizal fungi were available). P. asarifolia and C. umbellata root and soil samples were collected multiple times during the growing season to determine if flowering time and occurrence in addition to degree of mycoheterotrophy impacts fungal community diversity. Using a 2-step metabarcoding PCR process, the DNA was sequenced using high-throughput sequencing to examine the fungal communities associated with each plant. Results indicate that P. asarifolia associates with fewer species per sample overall, but its communities are more diverse than that of C. umbellata.