INVESTIGADORES
GARIBALDI Lucas Alejandro
artículos
Título:
Viability of Neotyphodium endophytic fungus and endophyte-infected and non-infected Lolium multiflorum seeds
Autor/es:
GUNDEL, P. E.; MARTÍNEZ-GHERSA, M. A.; GARIBALDI, L. A.; GHERSA, C. M.
Revista:
Botany (anteriormente Canadian Journal of Botany, revista indexada en SCI - ISI)
Editorial:
National Research Council Canada
Referencias:
Año: 2009 vol. 87 p. 88 - 96
ISSN:
1916-2804
Resumen:
Neotyphodium endophyte fungi are vertically transmitted symbionts of cool-season grasses. Seed stage appears to be critical for the persistence of the fungus. Endophyte viability falls faster than seed viability, but little is known on the effects of endophyte on seed viability. Endophyte hyphae may influence seed survival by affecting seed water relations. Here, we assessed the effects of endophyte on seed viability, the differential survival of endophyte and seed, and the effects of infection on seed water content. Viability of endophyte-infected and non-infected seeds and endophyte were evaluated over a period of 729 days under 12 controlled environmental conditions. Seed viability was reduced by the infection at high temperature and high relative humidity, but not under other conditions. Moreover, endophyte viability decreased faster than seed viability only under high humidity or temperature. Seed water content was not affected by the endophyte presence. The proportion of viable infected seeds was mainly affected by the loss in endophyte viability and secondly by the differential survival of infected and non-infected seeds. Knowledge on the relative importance of these processes is critical to understand the factors affecting the efficiency of endophyte vertical transmission and the frequency of endophyte-infected plants.