Tall Fescue and E. coenophiala Genetics Influence Root-Associated Soil Fungi in a Temperate Grassland

Slaughter, Lindsey C.; Nelson, Jim A.; Carlisle, Anna E.; Bourguignon, Marie; Dinkins, Randy D.; Phillips, Timothy D.; McCulley, Rebecca L.

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2019.02380

Cited by 12 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 89 publications

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“…These studies suggest that this inhibition is caused by endophyte presence and its impact on the competitive ability of the host grass. This is problematic because the endophytes can modify multiple host traits that can alter the success of legumes and their interaction with rhizobia and AMF (García-Parisi et al, 2015Slaughter et al, 2016Slaughter et al, , 2019Vignale et al, 2016). Therefore, it is essential to study the mechanisms by which the grass-endophyte symbiosis can inhibit the establishment of a legume.…”

Section: However This Classification Allows Us To Understand What Happensmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endophytes shape the legacy left by the above‐ and below‐ground litter of the host affecting the establishment of a legume

et al. 2021

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1. Plant litter is a key component of plant-soil feedback (PSF), given its strong potential impacts on plant establishment and growth, through chemical and physical pathways. Although PSF of the layer of dead plant material on the soil surface (above-ground litter) has been widely studied, little is known about the role of dead roots (below-ground litter) and the impact of plant symbionts on host litter legacy.2. Here, we examined whether the fungal endophyte Epichloë occultans changed the effects of above-and below-ground litter of Lolium multiflorum plants on the establishment of Trifolium repens. We hypothesized that both types of litter deposited by the grass-endophyte symbiosis reduce the establishment of the legume due to the release of allelopathic compounds during the decomposition and leaching processes.3. To test this, we performed two experiments with different quantities of litter produced by plants of the same grass population, with high and low levels of endophyte infection (E+ and E−). Seeds of T. repens were exposed to the above-ground litter with or without the addition of below-ground litter, or to their leachates, to separate the physical and chemical pathways. 4. We found that the treatments with the combination of the above-and belowground litter produced by E+ plants increased the germination speed and seedling emergence of T. repens by 56% compared with both types of litter produced by E− plants. A similar effect was also observed with only the above-ground litter.However, the below-ground litter of E+ plants reduced the germination speed, seedling emergence by 76% and establishment of T. repens by 73% compared with the below-ground litter of E− plants. Besides, the below-ground litter had positive effects on the root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and reduced the root nodulation of T. repens. The quantity of litter did not affect any of these responses. 5. Our results suggest that these litter legacy effects could be due to the release of endophyte-induced secondary metabolites, such as phenolic and flavonoid compounds. Changes in host plant litter inputs may have consequences for the | 2871Functional Ecology MINÁS et al.

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Section: However This Classification Allows Us To Understand What Happensmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endophytes shape the legacy left by the above‐ and below‐ground litter of the host affecting the establishment of a legume

et al. 2021

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“…Beyond Epichloë , research into associations between fungi and tall fescue has typically focused on fungal pathogens [ 9 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ], soil fungi [ 17 , 18 , 19 ], and root fungi such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate endophytes [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Many (although not all, see [ 16 , 22 , 24 , 25 ]) of these studies also show correlations between Epichloë infection and the fungus being studied.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A First Draft of the Core Fungal Microbiome of Schedonorus arundinaceus with and without Its Fungal Mutualist Epichloë coenophiala

Dale

Newman²

2022

JoF

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Tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) is a cool-season grass which is commonly infected with the fungal endophyte Epichloë coenophiala. Although the relationship between tall fescue and E. coenophiala is well-studied, less is known about its broader fungal communities. We used next-generation sequencing of the ITS2 region to describe the complete foliar fungal microbiomes in a set of field-grown tall fescue plants over two years, and whether these fungal communities were affected by the presence of Epichloë. We used the Georgia 5 cultivar of tall fescue, grown in the field for six years prior to sampling. Plants were either uninfected with E. coenophiala, or they were infected with one of two E. coenophiala strains: The common toxic strain or the AR542 strain (sold commerically as MaxQ). We observed 3487 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) across all plants and identified 43 ASVs which may make up a potential core microbiome. Fungal communities did not differ strongly between Epichloë treatments, but did show a great deal of variation between the two years. Plant fitness also changed over time but was not influenced by E. coenophiala infection.

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“…An increasing number of studies have shown that endophyte infection can affect not only the growth and resistance of host plants but also the soil microbial community in host habitats such as AMF (Iqbal et al 2012;Slaughter et al 2019). Focusing on economically important cultivated grasses such as Lolium arundinaceum Darbyshire ex.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endophytic fungi facilitate the coexistence of host grasses and neighboring legumes by changing rhizobial abundance

Fan

Deng

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Purpose: Grass-endophyte and legume-rhizobium symbionts coexist in grasslands. However, the effects of endophyte infection on legume-rhizobium symbionts remain poorly understood, especially in natural grasslands. Methods: In this study, Achnatherum sibiricum - Epichloë endophytes and Medicago ruthenica -rhizobia were selected as materials to investigate whether and how endophyte infection affected the growth of legume-rhizobia symbionts. It was hypothesized that endophytes can facilitate the coexistence of grass-legume systems. Results: The results demonstrated that endophyte infection affected the growth of both rhizobia and M. ruthenica -rhizobia symbionts, and the results depended on rhizobial identity. Endophyte infection inhibited the growth of Mesorhizobium ciceri , which significantly promoted the growth of M. ruthenica , and promoted Sinorhizobium meliloti , which had no significant effect on the growth of M. ruthenica . Endophyte infection also changed the interaction between A. sibiricum and M. ruthenica . When inoculated with M. ciceri , endophyte infection weakened the promoting effect of A. sibiricum on M. ruthenica , while when inoculated with S. meliloti , endophyte infection enhanced the promoting effect. Endophyte infection affected the growth of M. ruthenica -rhizobia symbionts by affecting rhizobia abundance in roots and nitrogen content in plant leaves. Conclusion: In conclusion, endophyte infection was beneficial to biomass accumulation and species coexistence in grass-legume mixed planting systems. In this study, it was proposed that endophyte infection may change the growth of legume-rhizobia symbionts by affecting the growth and nitrogen fixation of rhizobia.

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Tall Fescue and E. coenophiala Genetics Influence Root-Associated Soil Fungi in a Temperate Grassland

Cited by 12 publications

References 89 publications

Endophytes shape the legacy left by the above‐ and below‐ground litter of the host affecting the establishment of a legume

Endophytes shape the legacy left by the above‐ and below‐ground litter of the host affecting the establishment of a legume

A First Draft of the Core Fungal Microbiome of Schedonorus arundinaceus with and without Its Fungal Mutualist Epichloë coenophiala

Endophytic fungi facilitate the coexistence of host grasses and neighboring legumes by changing rhizobial abundance

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