Lauren Holland Rose Hills
Impacts of fungal pathogen Sphaerulina sp. on California pitcher plant
The California pitcher plant (Darlingtonia californica) is a carnivorous species, endemic to Northern California and Southern Oregon, that commonly displays necrotic lesions on otherwise healthy pitchers. Through a mix of microscopy, culturing, and DNA sequencing, I’ve collected multiple lines of evidence suggesting that a fungus in the genus Sphaerulina is the causal agent of these symptoms. I’ve also found Sphaerulina in healthy, green plant tissue, suggesting it can exist in an asymptomatic, endophytic manner. While I aim to publish a description of this novel species, this project also seeks to answer the following questions:
(1) Is Sphaerulina primarily a pathogen or an endophyte on Darlingtonia?
(2) How does Sphaerulina impact Darlingtonia’s fitness and digestive function?
(3) Is Sphaerulina a host-specific pathogen that depends on Darlingtonia to complete its life cycle?
Such insights will clarify the role fungal pathogens play in shaping plant ecology, especially for species in vulnerable wetland ecosystems. Addressing these questions may also reveal how microbial presence in distinct plant structures shapes physiology and orchestrates trade-offs across taxa.
Message To Sponsor
I want to thank the donor who made this all possible. Microbial biology, especially in the scope of plant-fungal interactions, is a field that deeply interests me and I have a deep passion for the systems I am studying. To have the opportunity to conduct this research, on a plant (and fungus!) that I find so intriguing, is so gratifying to me– I owe it to you! Thank you for your donation to my project, truly.