Effect of fire on a seed bank pathogen and on seeds of its host Bromus tectorum

J. Beckstead; Susan E. Meyer; L.E. Street; P.S. Allen

Treesearch

Effect of fire on a seed bank pathogen and on seeds of its host Bromus tectorum

Informally Refereed

Authors:

J. Beckstead, Susan E. Meyer, L.E. Street, P.S. Allen

Year:

2010

Type:

Miscellaneous Publication

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

In: Pendleton, Rosemary; Meyer, Susan; Schultz, Bitsy, eds. Conference Proceedings: Seed Ecology III - The Third International Society for Seed Science Meeting on Seeds and the Environment - "Seeds and Change"; June 20-June 24, 2010; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Albuquerque, NM: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 10-11.

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Abstract

The generalist pathogen Pyrenophora semeniperda (Brittlebank and Adam) Shoemaker occurs primarily in cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) seed banks, where it causes high seed mortality (Beckstead et al. 2007; Meyer et al. 2007). How does fire impact survival of a fungal seed pathogen, P. semeniperda, versus survival of the seeds of its cheatgrass host, the invasive Bromus tectorum? If fire completely destroys the pathogen, then cheatgrass seeds surviving the fire would be able to establish free of this natural enemy. Conversely, if the pathogen has high post-burn survival, then cheatgrass recovery from a post-fire seed bank could be negatively impacted.

Parent Publication

Conference Proceedings: Seed Ecology III - The Third International Society for Seed Science Meeting on Seeds and the Environment - "Seeds and Change"; June 20-June 24, 2010; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Keywords

seed bank, Pyrenophora semeniperda, Bromus tectorum

Citation

Beckstead, J.; Meyer, S. E.; Street, L. E.; Allen, P. S. 2010. Effect of fire on a seed bank pathogen and on seeds of its host Bromus tectorum. In: Pendleton, Rosemary; Meyer, Susan; Schultz, Bitsy, eds. Conference Proceedings: Seed Ecology III - The Third International Society for Seed Science Meeting on Seeds and the Environment - "Seeds and Change"; June 20-June 24, 2010; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Albuquerque, NM: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 10-11.