Distribution of polyploid variation in big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii, Poaceae) across the tallgrass prairie region

Genome ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen H. Keeler
Keyword(s):  
Tallgrass Prairie ◽  
Nuclear Dna ◽  
Missouri River ◽  
Andropogon Gerardii ◽  
Big Bluestem ◽  
Native Prairie ◽  
Dna Values ◽  
River Plants ◽  
Prairie West ◽  
East West

The objective of this research was to describe the distribution of polyploid cytotypes of the grass big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) along an east–west transect across the tallgrass prairie region, as an integral part of understanding the function of intraspecific polyploid polymorphism. Andropogon gerardii shows intraspecific variation in amount of nuclear DNA as a result of intraspecific polyploidy. Nearly 600 plants from 15 prairies in 5 states were collected and nuclear DNA was determined by flow cytometry. In the eastern part of the tallgrass prairie region, higher polyploids were rarely found. However, at the western edge of the tallgrass prairie, west of the Missouri River, plants with high nuclear DNA values comprised about half of the plants sampled and in one native prairie formed 82% of the population. Although big bluestem is historically the dominant grass throughout this region, it is extremely variable only on the western extreme of region.Key words: polyploidy, polymorphism, big bluestem, Poaceae, Andropogon gerardii, tallgrass prairie.

Land cover change in eastern Kansas: litter dynamics of closed-canopy eastern redcedar forests in tallgrass prairie

2001 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 214-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark D Norris ◽  
John M Blair ◽  
Loretta C Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Tallgrass Prairie ◽  
Lignin Content ◽  
Forest Litter ◽  
Decay Rates ◽  
Andropogon Gerardii ◽  
Juniperus Virginiana ◽  
Ecosystem Structure ◽  
Big Bluestem ◽  
Eastern Redcedar ◽  
Litter Dynamics

In the Great Plains region, eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana L.) abundance has increased dramatically in areas historically occupied by tallgrass prairie. This shift in dominant vegetation is likely to be accompanied by changes in ecosystem structure and function, including quantity, quality, and location (above- vs. below-ground) of litter inputs and subsequent effects on decomposition dynamics. The purpose of this study was to quantify and compare patterns of litterfall and decomposition in mature redcedar forests and adjacent prairie. Annual redcedar litterfall was 500 g·m-2·year-1, a large increase in foliar litter inputs compared with annually burned grassland (52 g·m-2·year-1). Using a reciprocal transplant decomposition study with four substrates, redcedar leaves and roots, and big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) foliage and roots, we found marginal habitat effects, but greater differences between species, presumably owing to litter quality (including both C:N and lignin content). Decay rates were significantly higher in the prairie relative to the forest for each substrate. Additionally, within any particular habitat, grass litter had significantly faster decay rates than forest litter. These results suggest a shift in patterns of litter input and decomposition processes with afforestation of tallgrass prairie, which may result in long-term changes in C sequestration and storage.Key words: litter dynamics, eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana), big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), decomposition, tallgrass prairie, nitrogen immobilization.

Spatial and temporal dynamics of Puccinia andropogonis on Comandra umbellata and Andropogon gerardii in a native prairie

2005 ◽  
Vol 83 (9) ◽  
pp. 1159-1173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles W. Barnes ◽  
Linda L. Kinkel ◽  
James V. Groth
Keyword(s):  
Disease Severity ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Common Garden ◽  
Andropogon Gerardii ◽  
Coefficient Of Determination ◽  
Big Bluestem ◽  
Native Prairie ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Rust Severity ◽  
One Year

The rust Puccinia andropogonis (Schwein.) was studied on its aecial and telial plant hosts, comandra ( Comandra umbellata L. Nutt.) and big bluestem ( Andropogon gerardii Vitman), respectively, in a native prairie to investigate the influence of aecial host proximity on disease severity of the telial host in a natural system. Both hosts were mapped to measure distances from comandra clones to selected big bluestem plants in a Minnesota prairie. Mean rust severity on big bluestem was regressed on the number of aecia on comandra (aecial density) within eight distance intervals from big bluestem plants. Distance intervals were analyzed both inclusive and exclusive of other distance intervals. There was a significant positive relationship between aecial density on comandra and rust severity on big bluestem that decreased with increasing distance in accordance with the power law model, becoming nonsignificant at distances >40 m. To establish whether the genetic background of big bluestem influenced the relationship between rust severity and the distance to comandra, a common garden was planted with a representative big bluestem plant population. The low coefficient of determination (r2) between mean rust severities of individual plants from one year to another suggests there is not a strong genetic component in the host determining disease severity.

Effects of mycorrhizae, phosphorus availability, and plant density on yield relationships among competing tallgrass prairie grasses

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 168-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. D. Hetrick ◽  
D. C. Hartnett ◽  
G. W. T. Wilson ◽  
D. J. Gibson
Keyword(s):  
Interspecific Competition ◽  
Tallgrass Prairie ◽  
Plant Density ◽  
Relative Yield ◽  
Phosphorus Availability ◽  
Andropogon Gerardii ◽  
Big Bluestem ◽  
Replacement Series ◽  
Competitive Release ◽  
Elymus Canadensis

A replacement series experiment was used to investigate the effects of mycorrhizae, phosphorus availability, and plant density on competitive relationships between three tallgrass prairie species of varying mycorrhizal dependencies. Under mycorrhizal conditions, the obligately mycorrhizal dependent warm-season grass Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem) was a better competitor in mixture with the nonmycorrhiza-dependent cool-season grass Koeleria pyramidata (Junegrass). In the absence of mycorrhizae, however, competitive effects of big bluestem were greatly reduced and Junegrass experienced competitive release. Relative yield totals increased when mycorrhizae were suppressed, suggesting greater intensity of interspecific competition in the presence of mycorrhizae. Thus, the competitive dominance of big bluestem in tallgrass prairie is strongly related to its mycorrhizal status. Elymus canadensis (Canada wild rye) outcompeted big bluestem both with and without mycorrhizae. Relative yield totals of this species mixture were also lower under mycorrhizal conditions, indicating that mycorrhizae increase the intensity of interspecific competition between them. Relative yields of wild rye competing with big bluestem increased in the absence of mycorrhizae, suggesting that it also experiences competitive release when big blue-stem are not mycorrhizal. The outcomes of competition were generally similar among the three total plant density treatments and between P-fertilized and nonfertilized treatments. However, interactions between mycorrhizal effects and plant density confirm that outcomes of interspecific competitive interactions may be density dependent in some cases. Key words: arbuscular mycorrhizae, de Wit replacement series, Andropogon gerardii, Elymus canadensis, Koeleria pyramidata.

scholarly journals Genetic and environmental influences on stomates of big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)

2018 ◽  
Vol 155 ◽  
pp. 477-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick A. Varvel ◽  
Christina J. Hilt ◽  
Loretta C. Johnson ◽  
Matthew Galliart ◽  
Sara G. Baer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Andropogon Gerardii ◽  
Big Bluestem

CYTOGENETIC EFFECTS OF 2,4-D AND AMITROLE IN RELATION TO NUCLEAR VOLUME AND DNA CONTENT IN SOME HIGHER PLANTS

1972 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 773-783 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Mohandas ◽  
W. F. Grant
Keyword(s):  
Hordeum Vulgare ◽  
Nuclear Dna ◽  
Higher Plants ◽  
Positive Control ◽  
Root Tip ◽  
Interphase Chromosome ◽  
Dna Values ◽  
Cytological Abnormalities ◽  
Centaurea Jacea ◽  
Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum

The cytological effects of 2,4-D and amitrole were studied for 12 species (Tradescantia clone 02, Allium cepa, Vicia faba, Triticum aestivum, T. dicoccum, Hordeum vulgare, Secale cereale, Centaurea jacea, Cirsium vulgare, Chrysanthemum leucanthemum, Plantago major and Erigeron canadensis). Ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) was used as a positive control. The cytological abnormalities induced in root-tip cells by both 2,4-D and amitrole included chromosome bridges, fragments, lagging chromosomes, and chromatin bodies; 2,4-D also induced chromosome contraction, and C-mitoses. Studies following seed treatments of Hordeum vulgare on M2 seedlings showed that 2,4-D and EMS induced albina mutants. Interphase nuclear volumes of the various species were measured from root-tip meristems. Nuclear DNA values were determined cytophotometrically for seven species. The relative DNA values were found to be positively correlated with nuclear volumes. The lack of any clear relationship between the number of cytological abnormalities induced by the chemicals and the nuclear and interphase chromosome volumes of the plants probably reflects a lack of synchrony of the treated cell population.

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