Developing Culture-Based Methods to Assess the Function of Burkholderia Sensu Lato in Pitcher Plants

Presentation Year

2026

College or Department

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Short Description of your Research or Creative Project (700 characters or less)

Pitcher plants are host to a diverse array of microorganisms, one of which is Burkholderia sensu lato. Burkholderia s.l. is a group of bacteria that is positively associated with function in the pitcher plant, Sarracenia purpurea, though the mechanisms behind this functionality are poorly understood. In this study, I developed a culture-based method to isolate Burkholderia s.l. from a larger microbial community. I then characterized the Burkholderia isolates’ cellular morphology, oxygen requirements, motility, and nitrate reduction potential. I found that the characteristics of Burkholderia s.l. isolated from Sarracenia sp. diverges from that proposed in the literature.

Permission to Publish Work

Yes

Presentation File Upload

biological-sciences-murphy-theo-203688-4x3.pdf (544.83 KB)

Primary Contact: First Name

Theo

Primary Contact: Last Name

Murphy

Primary Contact: Email

tpc24@humboldt.edu

Primary Contact: I am a

Undergraduate Student

Primary Contact: Phone Number

8056100063

Indicate File Dimensions

4'x3'