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Author: Cannon, Brandi
Email: bcc013@shsu.edu
Phone: 8324752863
Organization: Sam Houston State University Biology Department
Address:
2401 Montgomery Road,
Huntsville,
Texas,
77340
Abstract Title: PRESENTATION, FLAVOR, AND AROMA: INVESTIGATION OF HOST CUES IN THE ORIENTATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF PHORADENDRON SEROTINUM (VISCACEAE). Brandi C. Cannon, Jessica D. Garrison, James H. Sopas, Timothy J. Verastegui, and Christopher P. Randle Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX
Abstract Text: Parasitic plants obtain nutrients from host plants by means of a haustorium, an invasive vascular organ. Phoradendron serotinum (leafy mistletoe) is an aerial obligate hemiparasite native to N. America ranging from New Jersey westward to California and southward to central Mexico. P. serotinum parasitizes trees, primarily to obtain water and minerals. While P. serotinum is capable of parasitizing a wide diversity of trees, populations demonstrate local host preference, usually predominantly parasitizing a single tree species in a given locality. Because P. serotinum is not extremely harmful to its host, it may serve as an experimental model for understanding host preference that may be extensible to mistletoes that damage timber trees. In this study, we examine the role that host cues play in the orientation and establishment of haustoria. Specifically, light cues, chemicals associated with physical substrate, and airborne chemical cues are important for successful haustorial establishment. Light and physiochemical substrate were found to be important for haustorial establishment. Haustorial orientation was found to depend on gaseous cues. We identify a class of gaseous plant compounds, the monoterpenes, that may play an important role in directing the growth of seedling radicles.
Conference
Year: TIPPC_2011
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Presenter Type (Student or Regular):
Session: 4. Research
Submission Date: 2011-09-16
