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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

smut, cheatgrass population, Bromus tectorum

College

Life Sciences

Department

Plant and Wildlife Sciences

Abstract

In the Western United States, cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) is often considered to be an undesirable, invasive weed. When cheatgrass is introduced into an area, it can rapidly establish itself as the dominant species, inhibiting re-establishment of native plants1,2 while competing with important grain crops such as winter wheat.3 Not only does cheatgrass compete vigorously with other vegetation, but because it dies early in the summer, dry sites with high amounts of cheatgrass become susceptible to fires. In addition to threatening ranches, farms, and houses, frequent fires drastically increase mortality of shrubs such as Artemesia tridentata and other important shrub species not accustomed to frequent fire.2 As cheatgrass invades areas, it is accompanied by a fungus (Ustilago sp., a smut) that destroys its seed by harnessing seed production mechanisms and forcing cheatgrass to produce fungal spores instead of seed. This effectively destroys all possible progeny from that individual, as cheatgrass dies after producing seed.

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