9419722 Stephenson Recent studies indicate that phosphorus fertility can control plant reproduction by controlling the characteristics of the pollen. Symbiotic fungi, called mycorrhizal fungi, can increase the uptake of phosphorus into plants. This research will determine whether the symbiotic fungi influence plant reproduction via an effect on pollen quality. The project will greatly advance our understanding of the response of plants to environmental stress (phosphorus infertility) and the role of mycorrhizal fungi in that response. The study will provide insight into the evolution of natural plant populations, especially in regards to local adaptation and the genetic substructure of populations. The research should have important ramifications for the understanding of pollination of crops, the flow of genes among crops and their wild relatives, and the development of techniques for pollen selection for agriculturally desirable traits.
