Date Presented

Spring 5-15-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Department

Biology

First Advisor

Dr. Erin Friedman

Second Advisor

Dr. Price Blair

Third Advisor

Prof. Stephen Burris

Abstract

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) within the Meloidogyne genus are considered one of the largest threats to plant health and subsequent crop yield and profit (Forghani and Hajihassani 2020; Bernard et al. 2017). As a pest that presents global consequences, its mitigation through sustainable interventions may confer results for the treatment of similar plant pathogens. A member of the Brassicaeae family, Arabidopsis thaliana, was chosen for this study to determine how this model plant responds to RKN-standard pH media. pH was varied between control and experimental groups, and the phenotypic variables of primary root length and plant height were observed and analyzed. Wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana plants were grown hydroponically in order to monitor growth medium pH and primary root length. The difference in the average of plant root lengths for one of six trials was found to be statistically significant at 21 DAP following pH modifications, but plant height was not, which suggests this variable may be attributed to RKN presence rather than cidic pH. Concerning plant-pathogen relationships, these results contribute to the available data in order to better understand and potentially mitigate agricultural losses due to RKN infection.

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