Diversity and distribution of indigenous bradyrhizobia populations associated with Acacia koa in Hawaii

Author:

Leary, James John Kalani

Title:

Diversity and distribution of indigenous bradyrhizobia populations associated with Acacia koa in Hawaii

Year:

2007

Volume:

Ph.D.

Pages:

129 p.

Subject:

Acacia koa Bradyrhizobium Soils nitrogen content Legumes

Summary:

This dissertation characterizes bradyrhizobia associated with koa at different scales in order to describe the biological diversity of the symbiotic interactions of koa. On Mauna Kea, koa and the exotic legume gorse ( Ulex europaeus ) reside within the same landscape and were found to interact with the same indigenous population of bradyrhizobia. On a landscape scale, symbiosis with promiscuous bradyrhizobia has contributed to the successful invasion of a noxious weed legume in this koa habitat. In wet mesic forests, it has been discovered that many mature koa can nodulate on adventitious roots established within canopy pockets that contain trapped organic soils derived from decomposing heartwood and phyllode litter of the host tree. These canopy pockets were found to contain higher nutrient levels than the adjacent terrestrial soils.

Date:

May 2007

Collection:

Monographs