Endophytic fungi of grasses protect other plants from aphid herbivory

GARCÍA PARISI PA, GRIMOLDI AA, OMACINI M

FUNGAL ECOLOGY

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2014 vol. 9 p. 61 - 64

1754-5048

Microbial plant symbionts are widely spread in nature changing the way their host interact with their environment. Neotyphodium fungal endophytes(Clavicipiteacea)are grass symbionts known by their production of alkaloids, toxic for herbivores. Here, we hypothesized that endophytes con 5 fer associational protection to non-host plants and change host volatile-compounds emission. In an outdoor microcosm experiment, we examined aphid infestation on Trifolium repens plants, in response to N. occultans presence in neighbouring Lolium multiflorum. Contrasting levels of Rhizobium were generated in T. repens plants considering that symbiotic plants would profit from N2-fixers. Aphid infestation increased 10 responding to symbiotic status of T. repens plants, when surrounded by non-symbiotic L. multiflorum plants. Endophytes modified the volatile imprints of L. multiflorum plants measured by an electronic nose, suggesting a potential mechanism to benefit neighbours. This associational protection constitutes a new mutualism trait of grass-endophyte symbiosis, becoming a non-private benefit available to other community partners.