No abstract

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 Epichloë festucae, which has a beneficial effect on the infected plants. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the endophyte Epichloë 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.Ann Appl Biol 159 (2011) 281-290 Endophytes alter allelopathy in red fescue B.R. Vázquez-de-Aldana et al.

Festuca rubra subsp. pruinosa is a grass that inhabits the sea cliffs of the Atlantic coasts of Europe. Four populations of this plant in the northern coast of Galicia, in northern Spain, were analysed for the presence of fungal endophytes. Of the plants included in the study, on average 0AE69 were infected by an intercellular fungal endophyte. Using morphological and molecular characters, this endophyte was identified as Epichloë festucae, a clavicipitaceous, seed-transmitted species. A halfsibling line, consisting of endophyte-free and endophyte-infected plants, was developed and used to test whether the presence of the fungus affected the response of the plants to salinity. Dry weights of infected or uninfected plants, watered with sea-water solutions or tap water, did not significantly differ.