Hi all, If there is anyone that studies Spartina alterniflora root morphology, please help! I can't find any information on what look like root nodules on this species. I have looked at many roots of S. alterniflora, but have never seen these structures. They are spherical and range in diameter between one and three mm, are white to black, and when I dissected one, it looked like a sac encasing a spongy, white mass. They seem to only be at the ends of the finer roots. There were some oval- looking structures inside, but also what looked like stringy structures. You will have to excuse my lack of correct terminology, but I have never seen these and have no idea how else to describe them. Could they be housing nitrogen-fixing bacteria, or perhaps these are invertebrate root galls? Does anyone have experience with these that can help?
Many thanks, in advance, Demetra Kandalepas, Ph.D. Tulane University Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
