Erika Magnusson is a senior plant science major assisting with a research project on the invasive aquatic plant curlyleaf pondweed. The research aims to determine how the herbicide Aquathol-K affects the plant's carbohydrate allocation patterns and diversity of flora and fauna in lakes. Erika will help measure carbohydrates in herbicide-treated and non-treated curlyleaf pondweed turions using a colorimetric method. The results could provide knowledge on how the herbicide affects turion sustainability and native vegetation, informing the DNR's management strategies. Funding is requested to purchase enzymes needed to complete the carbohydrate analysis.

1. Undergraduate Research Conference Funding: Honors Independent Study Project:
Carbohydrate Allocation Patterns in Southern Minnesota Herbicide (Aquathol-K)
treated Curlyleaf Pondweed (Potomogeton crispus) Populations.
My name is Erika Magnusson and I am currently a senior and a declared plant science
major at Minnesota State University Mankato. I have broadened my research in the field
of plant science by establishing an independent study of undergraduate research under the
direction of MNSU-Mankato Biology department professor Dr. Ruhland and graduate
student Zach Gutknecht. I will be assisting Zach with laboratory measurements of floral
and fauna in order to determine how the application of an aquatic herbicide affects the
composition and diversity of fauna and flora in a shallow lake ecosystem.
Significance of the Research Project: My main objective for undergraduate research
will be aiding Zach in carbohydrate allocation measurements of Curlyleaf Pondweed
(Potomogeton crispus). Potomogeton crispus is the most widely dispersed nuisance
forming non-native submersed aquatic plant in the state of Minnesota (Woolf & Madsen;
2003). Potomogeton crispus is considered invasive due to its ability to reproduce
primarily vegetatively (asexually) by the formation of turions, which have a very high
germination rate and a strong rhizome anchoring system. Both of the latter causing
Potomogeton crispus’ dense growth to outcompete native aquatic vegetation, degrade
water quality, and cause problems for boater’s navigation and recreation. It is evident that
Potomogeton crispus’ has the ability to outcompete and eventually dominate native
vegetation in Southern Minnesota lakes. A university’s biological science department,
such as Minnesota State University Mankato located in Southern Minnesota, should be
aware of and able to place emphasis on invasive species in its own vicinity.

2. Proposed Methodology for Attaining Project Goals: My main responsibilities will be
to assist Zach in the lab by using a procedure called “Colorimetric Methods for
Determination of Sugars” previously cited by Michel Dubois, K.A. Gilles, J.K. Hamilton,
P.A. Rebers and Fred Smith (1955) to determine carbohydrate allocation patterns in
herbicide/non-herbicide treated Potomogeton crispus turions. The procedure involves, but
is definitely not limited to extracting sugars from weighted Potomogeton crispus turions,
hydrolyzing starch to glucose and eventually measure glucose hydrolysate (allocated
carbohydrate) of each Potomogeton crispus turion.
Zach has previously spent much of his time in years 2011-2012 collecting turions of
Potomogeton crispus for carbohydrate analysis. The turions are very small in size, yet
each turion provides valuable information for a database of overall carbohydrate
allocation patterns either in response to different light conditions or herbicide treatments.
It is very important that each turion is subject to the “Colorimetric Methods for
Determination of Sugars” procedure, which can only occur with proper quantities of
reagents required. Currently, there is a need for more specific enzymes (notably PGO and
alpha-amylase) in order to complete to create a proper reagent quantity for further turion
analysis.
Anticipated Project Outcomes:
Assist Zach with measurements for his comparison of herbicide/non-herbicide
treated floral (turions) in shallow lake ecosystems.
Use the Potomogeton crispus carbohydrate allocation measurements to create an
Undergraduate Research Symposium presentation of how Potomogeton crispus
turion sustainability to store carbohydrates differs after consecutive annual
herbicide treatments compared to no treatment at all or one annual treatment.

3. Overall, this undergraduate research should give not only Southern Minnesota more
knowledge about how turions are affecting its native vegetation, but also give the DNR
(Department of Natural Resources) knowledge of how the current herbicide treatments
are affecting turion carbohydrate allocations. The DNR can then use the turion data to
either look for new herbicide treatments, decrease/increase consecutive yearly herbicide
treatments or look for alternative methods of limiting Potomogeton crispus. The global
perspective of the undergraduate research data of turion samples carbohydrate allocation
patterns should in turn provide better water quality in Southern Minnesota with less
degradation from invasive Potomogeton crispus or less unnecessary herbicide use by the
DNR.
Timeline:
Start Date 9/1/12
TurionScrap Sample Analysis and Experimentation 9/28/12
Turion Actual Samples Carbohydrate Allocation Data Collected 10/15/12
Different Lake Turion Samples tested 2/1/13
Present Information at URC 4/11/13
In order to fulfill the requirements for the undergraduate research I am involved with,
Carbohydrate Allocation Patterns of Potomogeton crispus Populations, grant money is
needed for the purchase of enzymes. There are four enzymes (1 quantity of each enzyme)
needed to complete the research: The exact prices and content are listed as follows:
Enzyme Content needed
Price for entire
content
α-Amylase (B. licheniformis) 40mL - 3000 Units/mL $152.21
Amyloglucosidase from Aspergillus niger
50 mL, aqueous
solution $76.30
o-Dianisidine dihydrochloride 5g $43.50
PGO Enzyme Preparation
1 G capsules-10
capsules $92.70
Total: $364.71

4. Bibliography
Woolf, T. E., & Madsen, J. D. (2003, June 25). Seasonal biomass and carbohydrate
allocation patterns in southern Minnesota curlyleaf pondweed populations. J.
Aquat. Plant Manage. 41:113-118.
Dubois, Michel, K.A. Gilles, J.K. Hamilton, P.A. Rebers and Fred Smith. 1955.
Colorimetric method for determination of sugars and related substances.
Analytical Chemistry 28: 350-356.