Dominant foliar endophytes in soybean

We seek to determine the effects of foliar endophytes on soybean physiological traits, and their effect on plant responses to elevated carbon dioxide. We are using three dominant endophytes extracted from the SoyFACE facility at UIUC. Overall design: This experiment took place in February of 2020. Soybeans were grown in chambers in sterile soil. Methods include inoculting plants with endopytes individually and in combination to determine infection rate and plant response. Endophytes were grown on MEA plates and cultures mixed with autoclaved milli-q water in equal combinations and sprayed onto soybeans. Soybeans were covered with opaque bags for one day to encourage colonization of endophytes. After bags were removed and leaves allowed to dry, soybeans were randomized in chambers and let sit for 8 days. Gas exchange data was taken after 7 days. After this time, leaf punches were taken from the top, middle, and bottoms leaves and used for RNA sequence data. The plant was then harvested for biomass the next day.

本研究旨在明确叶面内生真菌（foliar endophytes）对大豆生理性状的影响，及其对植株响应高浓度二氧化碳（elevated carbon dioxide）的调控作用。实验所用的3株优势内生真菌，均分离自伊利诺伊大学厄巴纳-香槟分校（UIUC）的SoyFACE设施。

整体实验设计：本实验于2020年2月实施。大豆种植于无菌土壤的培养箱内。实验通过单独接种与联合接种内生真菌的方式，以明确侵染效率与植株响应特征。具体步骤为：将内生真菌接种于麦芽提取物琼脂（MEA）平板上培养，随后将菌液与高压灭菌的Milli-Q超纯水按等比例混合后喷施于大豆植株表面；为促进内生真菌定殖，需用遮光袋覆盖大豆植株1天。移除遮光袋并待叶片晾干后，将大豆随机放置于培养箱中培养8天。接种7天后采集气体交换数据。此后，从大豆植株的顶部、中部及基部叶片采集叶盘，用于RNA测序（RNA sequence data）分析。次日收获植株以测定生物量。