University of Florida

The Introduction and Spread of Non-native Species Is Accelerating With Ongoing Expansion of Travel, Trade, and Human Alteration of the Environment. Introduced Species Often Leave Behind Their Pathogens Upon Arrival to a New Range, Thus Providing a Unique Opportunity to Study How They Are Colonized by Pathogens in Their New Environment. This Includes the Potential Effects of Pathogens on the Spread of Introduced Species and Their Competitive Interactions With Native Species. the Annual Grass Microstegium Vimineum Is One of the Most Aggressive and Troublesome Plant Invaders in the Eastern Us. Invasions Occur in Forests, Along Roads and Streams, and in Interior Forest and Riparian Areas. It Is the #1 Invasive Plant of Concern by Land Managers in the Eastern Us. We Have Documented Multiple Fungi Causing Leaf Spot Epidemics on This Invasive Plant That Reduce Its Growth and Seed Production. This Project Will Study the Fungi Colonizing This Plant and Co-occurring Native Plants, and How the Fungi Affect Invasive and Native Plants Using Experiments and Mathematical Models. This Research Will Lead to a More General Understanding of Pathogen Emergence, and the Effects of Pathogens on Plant Invasions.