IFEVA   02662
INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACIONES FISIOLOGICAS Y ECOLOGICAS VINCULADAS A LA AGRICULTURA
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
Effects of systemic fungal endophytes on the performance of meadow fescue and tall fescue in mixtures with red clover.
Autor/es:
DIRIHAN, S. ; HELANDER, M.L. ; SALONIEMI, I. ; GUNDEL, P.E. ; SAIKKONEN, K.
Revista:
GRASS AND FORAGE SCIENCE (PRINT)
Editorial:
WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC
Referencias:
Lugar: Londres; Año: 2015 vol. 70 p. 465 - 473
ISSN:
0142-5242
Resumen:
A symbiosis between grasses andsystemic fungal endophytes exists in both natural and agricultural grassland communities.Our objective was to examine the effects of systemic endophytes on thecompetitive ability of two agronomically important grass species: meadow fescue[Festuca pratensis (Huds.) syn. Schedonorus pratensis (Huds.) P. Beauv] andtall fescue [Festuca arundinacea (Schreb.) syn. Schedonorus phoenix (Scop.)].Plants of meadow and tall fescue were grown for 48 days in replacement seriesof interspecific mixture with a legume (red clover, Trifolium pratense L.) indifferent nutrient environments in a greenhouse. Neither of the grass speciesgained endophyte-promoted competitive advantage over red clover in grass?clovermixtures. Endophyte infection increased the growth of meadow fescuemonocultures by 89% compared to endophytefree monocultures in high-nutrientsoils, but plant competition or the cost of endophyte infection to the meadowfescue decreased the yield in resource-limited conditions. On average,endophyte-infected and endophyte-free meadow fescues produced 015 and 017 g, and014 and 014 g dry biomass per plant in mixtures with red clover in high- andlow-nutrient soils respectively. In contrast to meadow fescue,endophytepromoted growth of tall fescue monocultures was not detected.Endophyte-infected and endophyte-free tall fescue monocultures produced 076 and095 g biomass per pot, respectively, in the high-nutrient environment.Endophyte infection can increase the performance of the host grass, but thepositive effects depend on the host species, the species composition and soilnutrient availability.