Beneficial fungal interactions resulting in accelerated germination of Astragalus utahensis, a hard-seeded legume

Abstract

Seed germination is pivotal in the life cycle of native plants in a restorative context because initiation of the metabolic processes critical to establishment is key to survival in such a competitive environment. Dormancy characteristics of some native plants including the subject species, Astragalus utahensis, have evolved mechanisms to control germination in order to maintain a seed bank and ensure germination at the right time under optimal conditions. In vitro germination studies confirm beneficial interactions between Alternaria and Aspergillus fungi and Astragalus utahensis seed. Inoculated seed trials (1.0 x 10⁶ spores/mL) exhibited a highly significant difference in percent germination between the uninoculated control at 5.0 % germination and seeds inoculated with Alternaria and Aspergillus germinating at 95% and 55%, respectively.

Citation

Eldredge, Sean D. 2007. Beneficial fungal interactions resulting in accelerated germination of Astragalus utahensis, a hard-seeded legume. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University. 99 p. Thesis.