Does endophyte symbiosis resist allelopathic effects of an invasive plant in degraded grassland?

Bao, Gensheng; Saikkonen, Kari; Wang, Hongsheng; Zhou, Lianyu; Chen, Shuihong; Li, Chunjie; Zhang, Nan

doi:10.1016/j.funeco.2015.05.006

Cited by 17 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 79 publications

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“…There are very few studies on the possible use of endophytes to control weeds. In a recent work, Bao et al (2015) reported that aqueous extracts of the hemiparasitic weed Pedicularis kansuensis inhibited more the seed germination and seedling growth of grasses devoid of their systemic fungal endophyte compared to those harbouring the endophyte [77]. We demonstrate for the first time that some of the non-systemic fungal endophytes do produce metabolites inimical to weeds.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 48%

Biological Control Through Fungal Endophytes: Gaps In Knowledge Hindering Success

Suryanarayanan¹,

Rajulu

Vidal

2018

CBIOT

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Background: The asymptomatic fungal endosymbionts of plants called the endophytes are universal in their occurrence. The occurrence of some entomopathogenic fungi which infect and kill insect pests of crops as endophytes provides an excellent opportunity for using these fungi in biocontrol. A few studies substantiate this novel approach of pest management; however, since this facet of endophyte research is nascent, enquiries answering basic questions on various aspects of endophyte biology are essential to successfully implement endophytemediated biocontrol. In a collaborative research, we addressed a few of these questions including (i) to what extent do fungal genera reported to have entomopathogenic species colonize non-crops as endophytes? (ii) can an endophyte from a non-crop source and vested with anti-insect property survive as an endophyte when introduced into a crop? (iii) how does an anti-insect endophyte in a crop affect an insect pest? and (iv) can endophytes be used for controlling weeds? The results of this study show that endophytes have enormous potential as biocontrol agents and reiterate the need for concerted efforts to obtain more basic information about endophyte biology before they can be used effectively for biocontrol. Methods: Non-entomopathogenic but anti-insect metabolites producing endophytes from plant and nonplant sources are shown to have potential biocontrol properties. Survival of an effective fungus from an alien source in a crop plant as an endophyte has been shown to be only for a limited period. Endophytes are shown to possess weedicidal activity. Results: Entomopathogenic fungal genera rarely colonize leaves of forest trees as foliar endophytes. Non-entomogenous endophytes produce ant-insect compounds affecting pests of crops thus having the potential as biocontrol agents. Such fungi isolated from non-plant sources can be inoculated into crops to function as endophytes, for brief periods. Insect pests avoid crops with anti-insect endophytes for oviposition and feeding. Some endophytes elaborate weedicidal compounds. Conclusion: Our basic study underscores the need to screen plants and non-plants of different habitats for entomopathogenic and anti-insect endosymbiotic fungi. Futhermore, it highlights the importance of screening endophytes for weedicidal compounds. We emphasise the need for focused studies for better understanding of the interaction between endophytes and their plant hosts and the biotic stressors of the host plants to enhance the success of using endophytes for biological control.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 48%

Biological Control Through Fungal Endophytes: Gaps In Knowledge Hindering Success

Suryanarayanan¹,

Rajulu

Vidal

2018

CBIOT

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“…Other studies have reported that interactions between endophytes and their local habitats ( Wäli et al, 2009 ) or origin of the host ( Bao et al, 2019 ) can affect the germination of Festuca rubra , F. ovina or Achnatherum inebrians seeds. Seed germination may also be influenced by allelopathic interactions from other neighboring plants, an example of which is the reported allelopathic potential of Pedicularis kansuensis ( Bao et al, 2015 ). The extracts of this weed inhibited both the seed germination and the seedling growth of Stipa purpurea and Elymus tangutorum.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The fungus Clonostachys epichloë alters the influence of the Epichloë endophyte on seed germination and the biomass of Puccinellia distans grass

2023

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The fungal grass endophyte Epichloë typhina (Pers.) Tul. & C. Tul. (Ascomycota: Clavicipitaceae) grows intercellulary in aerial plant parts and reproduces asexually by invading host seeds. In this phase, it enhances seed production and germination, which accelerates its vertical spread. This relationship may be distorted by other seed-born fungi, whose spread is not so directly dependent on the success of the grass. Recently, the fungus Clonostachys epichloë Schroers has been observed on Puccinellia distans (Jacq.) Parl seeds originating from grass clumps infested with stromata, sexual structures of Epichloë typhina that are formed in spring on some host culms, preventing flower and seed development (‘choke disease’). C. epichloë shows mycoparasitic activity toward Epichloë stromata by reducing the production of ascospores, which are responsible for horizontal transmission of the fungus. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of seed-borne C. epichloë on seed germination, as well as the size and weight of P. distans seedlings and to examine whether C. epichloë alters the influence of Epichloë in the early developmental stages of P. distans. The results showed that if C. epichloë acts on seeds together with E. typhina endophytes, the seeds were negatively affected due to the elimination of the positive effect of the latter in terms of both seed germination rate and seedling length. At the same time, C. epichloë increased the proportion of E. typhina-untreated germinated seeds. Additionally, only the joint action of the two fungi, E. typhina and C. epichloë, effectively stimulated seedling dry mass; the presence of E. typhina alone was not sufficient to noticeably affect seedling size. Based on the increasing commonality of C. epichloë on Epichloë stromata, as well as its potential to be used in biocontrol of ‘choke disease’, we should take a closer look at this fungus, not only in terms of its mycoparasitic ability, but also in terms of its cumulative impact on the whole Epichloë-grass system.

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“…Pedicularis kansuensis is an annual or biennial root hemiparasitic weed that can acquire some water, nutrients, and carbon compounds from its neighboring hosts through parasite-derived structures called haustoria ( Bao et al., 2015a ). This weed is extensively distributed in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau’s degraded grasslands through the combined effects of climate change, high seed production, and unpalatability to herbivores ( Bao et al., 2015b ; Sui et al., 2016 ; Wang et al., 2019 ; Wei et al, 2019 ; Wei et al, 2020 ; Wei et al, 2022 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of the effect of temperature and water potential on the seed germination of five Pedicularis kansuensis populations from the Qinghai–Tibet plateau

et al. 2022

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Temperature and water potentials are considered the most critical environmental factors in seed germinability and subsequent seedling establishment. The thermal and water requirements for germination are species-specific and vary with the environment in which seeds mature from the maternal plants. Pedicularis kansuensis is a root hemiparasitic weed that grows extensively in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau’s degraded grasslands and has seriously harmed the grasslands ecosystem and its utilization. Information about temperatures and water thresholds in P. kansuensis seed germination among different populations is useful to predicting and managing the weed’s distribution in degraded grasslands. The present study evaluated the effects of temperature and water potentials on P. kansuensis seed germination in cool and warm habitats, based on thermal time and hydrotime models. The results indicate that seeds from cool habitats have a higher base temperature than those from warm habitats, while there is no detectable difference in optimum and ceiling temperatures between habitats. Seed germination in response to water potential differed among the five studied populations. There was a negative correlation between the seed populations’ base water potential for 50% (Ψb(50)) germination and their hydrotime constant (θH). The thermal time and hydrotime models were good predictors of five populations’ germination time in response to temperature and water potentials. Consequently, future studies should consider the effects of maternal environmental conditions on seed germination when seeking effective strategies for controlling hemiparasitic weeds in alpine regions.

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Does endophyte symbiosis resist allelopathic effects of an invasive plant in degraded grassland?

Cited by 17 publications

References 79 publications

Biological Control Through Fungal Endophytes: Gaps In Knowledge Hindering Success

Biological Control Through Fungal Endophytes: Gaps In Knowledge Hindering Success

The fungus Clonostachys epichloë alters the influence of the Epichloë endophyte on seed germination and the biomass of Puccinellia distans grass

Comparison of the effect of temperature and water potential on the seed germination of five Pedicularis kansuensis populations from the Qinghai–Tibet plateau

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