A simultaneous effect of selfing and Epichloë endophyte on forage, seed yield and turf characteristics of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

Abstract

Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is a putative turf and forage plant characterized as mainly outcrossing in which the extent of self‐fertilization and its consequences has not been investigated. In this study, selfed and half‐sib family seeds were obtained from ten clonally propagated ryegrass plants among which two were endophyte‐free (EF) and eight were endophyte‐infected (EI). Then, 20 seed populations plus two commercial varieties of Speedy and Vigor were sown and evaluated in a biennial experiment for their turf and forage characteristics. Selfing caused significant inbreeding depression for plant fresh and dry weight and leaf length and width in the first year for both EI and EF genotypes. In the second year, only leaf length remained depressed among these characters. Also, for the most growth, turf and reproductive traits, EI populations showed less depression. The presence of endophyte in self‐pollinated populations made an increasing effect for the number of seed per spike and days to heading, although seed weight was reduced. Some of the populations derived from self‐pollination and infected with fungal endophyte including S9 and S10 were even superior to the two commercial varieties in terms of both seed production and turf characteristics. However, for seed‐related characteristics including number of spikes per plant, seed weight and seed yield, EF populations including Speedy and Vigor were more reproductive than EI populations. It is concluded that selfing may increase the discrimination between EI and EF ryegrass plants because endophyte infection may mitigate the negative consequences of inbreeding depression in prone populations.

Comparative physiological and proteomic analysis indicates lower shock response to drought stress conditions in a self-pollinating perennial ryegrass

“…Our results demonstrated that the self-pollinating genotype of Lolium perenne (S10) might provide a better buffer in response to drought stress. Therefore, self-pollinating genotypes of the plant might be advantageous over cross-pollinating ones due to having more gain for desired traits, including drought stress resistance after fixation in genetic loci and selection for the well-performed characteristics [13]. In our study, it seems that the S10 genotype is a potential new genetic resource with a self-pollinating reproductive system that could be introduced to different genetic backgrounds for better resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses.…”

“…Lolium perenne plant material of this experiment consisted of one well-performed genotype of S10, selected from the previous experiment [13] and two commercial populations of Vigor and Speedy Green or in short Speedy from Barenbrug (Barenbrug Co., the Netherland). Thus, three genotypes in this research were examined in a pot culture in a greenhouse according to a completely randomized design with three replications.…”

“…However, this will also prohibit the repeatability of results in scientific studies since keeping the background of genetic material is impossible. Recently, Torkian et al [13] reported that some of the Iranian perennial ryegrasses have appropriate reproductive characters of seed production as well as turf characteristics, which are also self-pollinating. Therefore, they may be considered as a new source of germplasm for future turfgrass breeding programs.…”

Inbred progeny of tall fescue infected with Epichloë fungal endophyte have a high defence compound content and no depression in seed set

“…It also reduces access to endophyte-compatible genotypes. In contrast, inbreeding may stabilize endophyte behaviour by preserving the genetic structure of the plant (Saikkonen et al 2004;Torkian et al 2019).…”

Impact of endophyte inoculation on the morphological identity of cultivars of Lolium perenne (L) and Festuca arundinacea (Schreb.)

“…Regarding the effect of endophyte presence on cultivar competitiveness 17 found that endophyte carrying turf grass cultivars differed in measures of composition, structure and nutrient cycling from endophyte free cultivars. Recent work 18 concluded that endophyte infection in perennial ryegrass could significantly increase days to heading and number of seeds per head, and decrease leaf length and the number of spikes per plant. This study further indicated that there were genetic differences between the cultivars.…”