Effects of symbiotic Epichloë gansuensis endophyte on drunken horse grass (Achnatherum inebrians) growth and seed production

The effects of the fungal endophyte Epichloë gansuensis on drunken horse grass (Achnatherum inebrians) were determined over a 4-year period in a field growth experiment near Lanzhou, Gansu, China. Endophyte-infected (E+) A. inebrians vs non-infected (E−) control plants were compared for height, till...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:New Zealand journal of agricultural research 2015-04, Vol.58 (2), p.234-240
Main Authors: Zhang, XX, Xia, C, Nan, ZB
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
aboveground biomass
Achnatherum
Achnatherum inebrians
Bunchgrasses
endophytes
Epichloë
Epichloë gansuensis
Experiments
field
fungi
growth
Growth (Plants)
seed yield
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Summary:The effects of the fungal endophyte Epichloë gansuensis on drunken horse grass (Achnatherum inebrians) were determined over a 4-year period in a field growth experiment near Lanzhou, Gansu, China. Endophyte-infected (E+) A. inebrians vs non-infected (E−) control plants were compared for height, tiller number, weight of above-ground biomass, seed production and plant survival. Plant parameters were observed to be significantly higher (P < 0.05) for E+ specimens (vs E− plants) on most occasions. Growth parameters, seed yield and plant survival decreased significantly (P < 0.05) over time, while the differences between E+ and E− plants increased over the duration of the investigation. Endophyte infection was concluded to be of benefit to the growth, seed yield and plant survival of A. inebrians under conditions in the field.
ISSN:1175-8775
0028-8233
1175-8775
DOI:10.1080/00288233.2014.978874