A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

An asexual Epichloe endophyte enhances waterlogging tolerance of Hordeum brevisubulatum




AuthorsSong ML, Li XZ, Saikkonen K, Li CJ, Nan ZB

PublisherELSEVIER SCI LTD

Publication year2015

JournalFungal Ecology

Journal name in sourceFUNGAL ECOLOGY

Journal acronymFUNGAL ECOL

Volume13

First page 44

Last page52

Number of pages9

ISSN1754-5048

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.funeco.2014.07.004(external)


Abstract
Using field collected asexual Epichloe endophyte infected (E+) and endophyte free (E-) Hordeum brevisubulatum plants in a greenhouse experiment, we demonstrate that endophyte infection increases host plant resistance to waterlogging. All plants assigned to waterlogging treatment started to wither and lose their root vitality, and consequently lost considerable photosynthesizing and root tissues. However, E+ plants showed significantly less symptoms of damage, and they produced significantly greater content of chlorophyll, more tillers, higher shoots and higher under-ground biomass compared to E- plants. Waterlogging induced osmoprotective proline production particularly in E+ plants and had lower malondialdehyde content and electrolyte leakage, suggesting that endophyte infection positively affects osmotic potential and oxidative balance of the host plant. We propose that higher resistance of E+ plants of H. brevisubulatum to waterlogging should be acknowledged in breeding programmes and the scenarios of changes in grassland ecosystems as a result of climate change. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd and The British Mycological Society. All rights reserved.



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