Interactive Effects of Co-occurring Epichloid Endophytes, Rhizobia and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Modulating Their Benefits to Grasses and Legumes

GARCÍA PARISI, PABLO A.; OMACINI, MARINA

Endophyte Biotechnology: Potential for Agriculture and Pharmacology (ed. A. Schouten)

CABi

Lugar: Oxfordshire; Año: 2019; p. 109 - 121

Symbiotic interactions are very extended in nature and their multiple co-occurrence among plants, fungiand bacteria is highly likely within a community. Thus, a single plant can harbour different strains, speciesor types of symbionts. Furthermore, at the neighbourhood level, the co-occurrence of grasses and legumesis a frequent event associated with their specific (endophyte, rhizobia) or generalist (arbuscular mycorrhizalfungi) symbionts. The simultaneous presence of two symbionts may induce additive or interactiveeffects (i.e. synergisms or antagonisms) both at plant and neighbourhood level. In this chapter, we explorethe responses of plants when two symbionts are present within the same host or within neighbouringplants. Here, we review studies researching on the effects of epichloid endophytes, systemic and asymptomaticfungal symbionts of grasses, on colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and theirconsequences on host plant performance. Besides, we explore the current knowledge related to the presenceof epichloid endophyte and AMF on the host grass affecting legume-rhizobia interaction, whethercoexisting in the neighbourhood or growing after grass dies. Interestingly, endophyte effects go beyondthe host and impact on other symbioses, either within the host or established in co-occurring plants in theneighbourhood. Endophytes either increase or impair AMF colonization within the host, and both symbiontscan have interactive or additive effects on host performance, depending on the grass, endophyteand AMF species and on the abiotic and biotic environment. Furthermore, endophyte presence on thehost grass can affect different attributes at community level through altering the performance of a neighbouringlegume, or one that grows after grass dies. As an outcome, the effects of these specific symbiontscan result in potential public benefits for non-host plants through the propagation of interactive effects ofseveral symbionts to the whole symbiosis influence area, the symbiosphere. The benefits give rise to theappearance of agroecosystem processes or services that could favour their sustainability.