SOUTHWORTH, DARLENE1*, LARRY PETERSON2, and JACK FISHER3. 1Department of Biology, Southern Oregon University, Ashland, OR 97520, USA; 2Department of Botany, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada; 3Fairchild Tropical Garden, 11935 Old Cutler Rd, Miami, FL 33156 USA. - Biocomplexity in mycorrhizae.
The National Science Foundation introduced the term
"biocomplexity" to refer to phenomena that result from
dynamic interactions within organisms and between organisms and the
physical environment. Recognition of biocomplexity is helpful in
selecting observations and designing experiments that encourage
understanding of interactions in complex environmental systems and
integration across temporal, spatial and conceptual boundaries. Plant
roots and fungi interact to form three-dimensional structures with
varying degrees of temporal and spatial stability in a substrate that
exhibits temporal variation and spatial heterogeneity. Studies on
mycorrhizal symbioses are expanding to include developmental and
structural approaches. These include the genetic signaling dialog
between roots and hyphae in development of mycorrhizae; the nature of
the interface between plant cells and fungi; observation of multiple
infections, including ecto- and endomycorrhizae, with diverse
abilities to take up phosphate; and common mycorrhizal networks in
which one fungus links multiple plants. This symposium will explore
the mechanistic and functional complexity of mycorrhizae.
Key words: biocomplexity, fungi, mycorrhizae, roots, symbiosis