Infection with the fungal endophyte Epichlö festucae may alter the allelopathic potential of red fescue
Red fescue (Festuca rubra) is a perennial grass used as both forage and turfgrass. Asymptomatic plants of this species are systemically infected by the fungal endophyte Epichlö; festucae, which has a beneficial effect on the infected plants. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the endophyte Epichlö; festucae on the allelopathic potential of F. rubra against four associated pasture species that are also considered as weeds in lawns, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Lotus corniculatus and Plantago lanceolata. Two experiments were designed to evaluate the allelopathic effect of extracts from the roots and leaves of endophyte-infected (E+) and non-infected (E-) plants on the germination and seedling growth of the four target species. Regardless of the endophyte status of the host plant, leaf extracts elicited a stronger reduction in germination and seedling growth than root extracts. Extracts from E+ plants reduced the speed of germination index of Trifolium spp. to a greater extent than those from E- plants. Radicle length of the target species was the parameter most affected by the presence of the endophyte in F. rubra. Root extracts from E+ plants had a greater inhibitory effect on the radicle growth of the target species than did root extracts from E- plants. A greater concentration in total phenolic compounds was found in the roots of E+ plants than of E-; however, this difference was not observed in the leaves. Thus, the allelopathic potential of F. rubra is altered in infected plants.
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | artículo biblioteca |
| Published: |
John Wiley & Sons
2011-09
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| Subjects: | Allelopathy, bird's foot trefoil, Festuca rubra, fungal endophytes, Germination, phenolic compounds, red clover, ribwort plantain, seedling growth, white clover, |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10261/258471 http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000780 http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100004837 |
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