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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

virulence variation, grass seed, Pyrenophora semeniperda

College

Life Sciences

Department

Plant and Wildlife Sciences

Abstract

Bromus tectorum, an invasive annual grass weed, is one of the main plants responsible for an increase in fire frequency and intensity in western wildlands. Wildfires cost the U.S. Forest Service over a billion dollars a year to fight. These fires destroy native vegetation communities and reduce biodiversity. Pyrenophora semeniperda, a native pathogen of grass seeds, has the capability of reducing the field seed bank of B. tectorum. Using P. semeniperda as a biocontrol on B. tectorum could help reduce the risk of fire to the western wildlands.

Included in

Life Sciences Commons

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