NSF Org:	DEB Division Of Environmental Biology
Recipient:	NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY
Initial Amendment Date:	January 11, 2002
Latest Amendment Date:	May 18, 2005
Award Number:	0129630
Award Instrument:	Continuing Grant
Program Manager:	Alan Tessier DEB  Division Of Environmental Biology BIO  Directorate for Biological Sciences
Start Date:	February 1, 2002
End Date:	January 31, 2007 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$400,006.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$400,006.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 2002 = $150,000.00 FY 2003 = $100,002.00 FY 2004 = $75,002.00 FY 2005 = $75,002.00
History of Investigator:	William Boecklen (Principal Investigator) wboeckle@nmsu.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	New Mexico State University 1050 STEWART ST. LAS CRUCES NM  US  88003 (575)646-1590
Sponsor Congressional District:	02
Primary Place of Performance:	New Mexico State University 1050 STEWART ST. LAS CRUCES NM  US  88003
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	02
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	J3M5GZAT8N85
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s):	Population & Community Ecology, POP & COMMUNITY ECOL PROG
Primary Program Source:	app-0102  app-0103  app-0104  app-0105
Program Reference Code(s):	9169, 9150, EGCH
Program Element Code(s):	112800, 118200
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.074

ABSTRACT

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Proposal Number: DEB-01-29630
Proposal Title: Endophyte Mediation of Tri-Trophic Interaction in Quercus gambelli
PI Name: William J. Boecklen
Institution: New Mexico State University

The importance of endophytic fungi (fungi that live within the leaves of plants) in mediating interactions between host plants, insect herbivores, and the natural enemies of herbivores (predators and parasitoids) is poorly understood in natural systems. The proposed research will examine both direct and indirect effects of endophytic fungi on plant herbivore interactions in a southwestern oak (Quercus gambelii) by using a combination of field sampling, chemical analyses, and controlled field experiments. In addition, the influence of environmental variation on the outcome of antagonistic interactions between endophytic fungi and interactions between endophytes and herbivores will be tested using field inoculations of fungal species onto oak hosts. The proposed research will contribute to our understanding of plant-herbivore interactions, and will help identify factors that influence plant susceptibility to herbivore attack. By understanding how herbivores respond to plants bearing endophytic fungi, results of this research will provide important insights into developing new strains of pest-resistant crop plants. In addition, the results of this research will provide background data on the potential use of endophytic fungi as biocontrol agents against insect herbivores.

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