accession: a collection from a specific population
that is named in order to track it
BFOD:
acronym for the Black Fingers Of Death fungus, a
cheatgrass seed pathogen
(Pyrenophora semeniperda)
biocontrol:
the use of living organisms as agents to reduce the
abundance of pests or invasive species
cheatgrass:
common name for Bromus tectorum, a weedy
annual grass from Eurasia. Also called downy brome
community ecology:
the study of the inter-relationships
among a group of different species which occur together
conidia:
fungal spores that are produced through an asexual
process
dormancy:
a state in which seeds or spores do not germinate (or
germinate slowly) when placed under optimal conditions for germination
ecological range:
the array of environments or habitats in which a
species can grow and reproduce
ecosystem services:
the necessities and benefits provided to humans by the
natural world
genome:
the unique DNA present in each cell of a particular
organism, including both genes and noncoding regions
germination:
the transition from a seed or spore to an actively
growing seedling or fungal mycelium
habitat:
the characteristic environment that supports a
particular species, including climate, soils and communities
of all other
species
haploid:
containing only one copy of the genome per
cell--contrasts with diploid, where two copies are present in each cell
host range:
the
array of different species susceptible to attack by a particular pathogen
infection window:
the period of time or developmental stage during the
life cycle of a host when it is susceptible to infection by a pathogen
inoculum:
spores or other tissues capable of infecting a host
organism, especially as prepared and applied by humans
isolates:
genetically pure strains of an organism obtained
through culturing in the laboratory
liquid culture: a method for
growing microorganisms that utilizes sterile broth as a food source
microorganisms:
living creatures that are largely invisible without a
microscope, e.g., bacteria, viruses, protozoa, microfungi, etc.
molecular markers:
DNA sequences that vary among strains or individuals,
used to distiguish among them or determine their relatedness
monoculture:
a plant community that is made up largely or completely
of a single species of plant
neutral markers: regions of the genome that are
used to distinguish among strains or individuals, but that are not
part of
genes; they are found in noncoding regions
nondormant: capable of rapid germination when placed under suitable
environmental conditions
outcrossing:
a breeding system in which individuals mate randomly
with unrelated individuals--contrasts with
inbreeding,
in which individuals are self-fertile or tend to mate
with close relatives
pathogen:
an organism that causes disease in a host organism,
usually by invading host tissues
plant community:
a
group of plant species that commonly co-occur because they have similar soil
and climate requirements
population:
a group of individuals of the same species that are
genetically similar, occupy a defined area, and
usually are able to
interbreed
propagules:
spores, seeds, or any other specialized structures
produced by living organisms that are capable of dispersing and producing a new
generation
454 pyrosequencing:
a technique for obtaining large quantities of DNA
sequence data, used for assembling a genome
restoration:
the process of returning an ecosystem from a disturbed
or degraded state to a state resembling the
pre-disturbance condition
secondary dormancy:
the state of a seed or spore that was nondormant but
has reentered dormancy
seed bank:
seeds in
the soil that can often persist across years
sequence:
a string of genetic code that organisms use as a
blueprint for life processes; as a verb, refers to the
process of obtaining
this information
sporulate:
produce conidia (spores)
strains:
genetically pure cultures, usually with distinctive
traits
stromata:
the fingerlike fruiting structures of some fungi, e.g.,
BFOD, that bear conidia on their branches
thermal tolerance:
the ability to survive high temperatures
toxins:
poisons, often produced by pathogens in order to
exploit a host
vegetative tissues: parts
of a plant or fungus not involved in reproduction
viable:
alive, capable of germination or growth
virulence:
a trait of a pathogen strain that determines either
which hosts it can attack or how aggressively it can attack
water potential:
a measure of wetness applied to soils and seeds,
related to the force needed to extract water
winter annual:
a plant life cycle in which seeds germinate in autumn,
plants overwinter as rosettes, and seed production occurs the following
spring