A toxic endophyte-infected grass helps reverse degradation and loss of biodiversity of over-grazed grasslands in northwest China

Xiang, Yanqiao; Christensen, Michael J.; Bao, Gensheng; Zhang, Chunping; Li, Xiuzhang; Li, Chunjie; Zhang, Nan

doi:10.1038/srep18527

Cited by 25 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 40 publications

(48 reference statements)

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“…The presence of an Epichloë endophyte in A. inebrians plants provides enhanced tolerance to abiotic stresses including drought stress (Xia et al, 2018), salt stress (Wang et al, 2018), heavy metals (Zhang et al, 2010), and low temperature (Chen et al, 2016), and as well as resistance to fungal pathogens (Xia et al, 2016) and insect pests (Zhang et al, 2012). The deterrence of grazing and the enhanced tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses conferred by the presence of an Epichloë endophyte have led to the greatly increased distribution of A. inebrians throughout the grasslands of northwest China that have been degraded by overgrazing (Zhao et al, 2005;Yao et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Epichloë gansuensis Endophyte on the Root and Rhizosphere Soil Bacteria of Achnatherum inebrians Under Different Moisture Conditions

Zhong

Christensen

et al. 2020

Front. Microbiol.

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This study was conducted to explore effects of the systemic fungal endophyte Epichloë gansuensis on root and rhizosphere soil bacterial diversity of Achnatherum inebrians host plants growing under different moisture conditions. Soil properties of different treatments were compared using standard techniques. A total of 4371379 16S rRNA gene sequences were obtained and assigned to 5025 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). These OTUs in roots and rhizosphere soil were divided into 13 and 17 phyla, respectively, and the Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria were the most abundant phyla both in roots and rhizosphere soil. Shannon diversity and Chao1 richness index of bacteria in rhizosphere soil was significantly higher than in roots. E. gansuensis decreased the Shannon diversity of the root-associated bacterial community, and increased Shannon diversity and Chao1 richness index of the rhizosphere soil bacterial community of A. inebrians. Meanwhile, Chao1 richness of the rhizosphere soil bacterial community of A. inebrians significantly increased with the increase of the soil moisture level. Structural equation modeling also emphasized that E. gansuensis decreased the diversity of the root-associated bacterial community and increased the diversity of the rhizosphere soil bacterial community through decreasing soil available N. Additionally, soil moisture increased the diversity of the rhizosphere soil bacterial community through increased soil pH, C/N, and NN, and decreased soil AP. The E. gansuensis endophyte and soil moisture effects on root and rhizosphere soil bacterial diversity were likely to be from responses to modifications of the rhizosphere soil properties.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Epichloë gansuensis Endophyte on the Root and Rhizosphere Soil Bacteria of Achnatherum inebrians Under Different Moisture Conditions

Zhong

Christensen

et al. 2020

Front. Microbiol.

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“…A. inebrians is widely distributed in northern China and is commonly known as drunken horse grass because of its long-recognized toxic and narcotic effects on livestock, especially horses. Additionally, owing to the toxicity to livestock, recent research has shown that A. inebrians can protect biodiversity (Yao et al, 2015 ). These toxins are apparently caused by E. gansuensis (Li et al, 2004 ; Zhang et al, 2014 ).…”

Section: Alkaloidsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advances in Research on Epichloë endophytes in Chinese Native Grasses

et al. 2016

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Epichloë fungal endophytes are broadly found in cool-season grasses. The symbiosis between these grasses and Epichloë may improve the abiotic and biotic resistance of the grass plant, but some Epichloë species produce alkaloids that are toxic for livestock. Therefore, it is important to understand the characteristics of the grass-Epichloë s symbiosis so that the beneficial aspects can be preserved and the toxic effects to livestock can be avoided. Since the 1990s, Chinese researchers have conducted a series of studies on grass-Epichloë symbiosis. In this review, we describe the current state of Epichloë endophyte research in Chinese native grasses. We found that more than 77 species of native grasses in China are associated with Epichloë endophytes. In addition, we review the effects of various Epichloë species on native grass responses to abiotic and biotic stress, phylogeny, and alkaloid production. We provide an overview of the study of Epichloë species on native grasses in China and directions for future research.

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“…Natural land covers have been increasingly converted into urban impervious surfaces, with urban expansion exhibiting very fragmented characteristics [45,46]. The complexity of this phenomenon and its effects influence many ecological and environmental impacts, such as increased soil erosion [47], poor water quality [48], and reduced aquatic biodiversity [49], from local to global scales. The scarcity of land resource has led to the accumulation of land use conflicts over time.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatially Explicit Evaluation and Driving Factor Identification of Land Use Conflict in Yangtze River Economic Belt

Cui

Kong

Chen

et al. 2021

Land

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Regional land use transitions driven by the adaptive reconciliation of existing land use conflict with socioeconomic development can lead to positive economic effects as well as new land use conflict. Although research on land use transition has progressed considerably, limited studies have explored the spatiotemporal dynamic pattern of land use conflict during the land use transition period. Previous evaluation approaches on land use conflict that mainly focus on status or potential conflict lack conflict intensity evaluation during the land use transition process. A new spatially explicit evaluation framework of land use conflict that directly examines three aspects of conflict, namely, ecological and agricultural (EAC), agricultural and construction (ACC), and ecological and construction (ECC) land conflicts based on ecological quality and agricultural suitability, is proposed in this study. The spatiotemporal dynamic pattern and driving factors of land use conflict in the Yangtze River Economic Belt of China in the period of 2000–2018 are evaluated. The results indicated that comprehensive land use conflict (CLUC) intensity slightly decreased by 9.91% and its barycenter showed a trend toward the west during 2000–2018. ACC is the most drastic conflict among the three aspects of conflict. The mean intensity of ACC reduced remarkably by 38.26%, while EAC increased by 33.15% and ECC increased by 28.28% during the research periods. The barycenter of EAC moved toward the east while the barycenter of ACC and ECC moved toward the west. The changes in the intensity and spreading pattern of land use conflict indices demonstrated the changes in the pattern of territorial space development. Total population, population density, per capita GDP, number of mobile phone users, and road density were strong drivers that influenced the land use conflict of territorial space. Multiple policy recommendations including improving territorial space planning and governance ability, and improving land use efficiency, were proposed to manage and resolve the land use conflict of territorial space. The results and conclusions of this study will help improve future regional land use policies and reduce land use conflict.

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A toxic endophyte-infected grass helps reverse degradation and loss of biodiversity of over-grazed grasslands in northwest China

Cited by 25 publications

References 40 publications

Effects of Epichloë gansuensis Endophyte on the Root and Rhizosphere Soil Bacteria of Achnatherum inebrians Under Different Moisture Conditions

Effects of Epichloë gansuensis Endophyte on the Root and Rhizosphere Soil Bacteria of Achnatherum inebrians Under Different Moisture Conditions

Advances in Research on Epichloë endophytes in Chinese Native Grasses

Spatially Explicit Evaluation and Driving Factor Identification of Land Use Conflict in Yangtze River Economic Belt

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