Symbiont-mediated changes in Lolium arundinaceum inducible defenses: evidence from changes in gene expression and leaf composition

Plants have multiple strategies to deal with herbivory, ranging from chemical or physical defenses to tolerating damage and allocating resources for regrowth. Grasses usually tolerate herbivory, but for some cool-season grasses, their strategy may depend upon their interactions with intracellular symbionts. Neotyphodium endophytes are common symbionts in pooid grasses, and, for some host species, they provide chemical defenses against both vertebrate and invertebrate herbivores. Here, it was tested whether defenses provided by Neotyphodium coenophialum in Lolium arundinaceum (tall fescue) are inducible by both mechanical damage and herbivory from an invertebrate herbivore, Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm), via a bioassay and by quantifying mRNA expression for lolC, a gene required for loline biosysnthesis. Both mechanical and herbivore damage had a negative effect on the reproduction of a subsequent herbivore, Rhopalosiphum padi (bird cherry-oat aphid), and herbivore damage caused an up-regulation of lolC. Uninfected grass hosts also had significantly higher foliar N% and lower C:N ratio compared with infected hosts, suggesting greater allocation to growth rather than defense. For L. arundinaceum, N. coenophialum appears to switch its host's defensive strategy from tolerance via compensation to resistance.     

Variation in horizontal and vertical transmission of the endophyte Epichloë elymi infecting the grass Elymus hystrix

Systemic fungal endophytes (Clavicipitaceae) of grasses reproduce sexually when the fungus forms stromata and contagious ascospores, or asexually by vertical transmission of hyphae into seeds and seedlings. Vertical transmission is predicted to favor reduced virulence compared with horizontal transmission in systems with both types of transmission. Here, variation in vertical and horizontal transmission and its potential heritability in a host grass-endophyte interaction, Elymus hystrix infected with Epichlo? elymi, were examined in natural populations and two common garden experiments using field-collected host tillers and seed progeny of maternal plants with known infection phenotypes. Transmission mode exhibited year-to-year variation in field and common garden environments. In the common garden there were consistent differences among maternal plant families in stroma production and significant correlations between stroma production in the common garden and in natural populations. Transmission mode differed among maternal families, spanning a continuum from pure vertical transmission to a high proportion of stroma production and horizontal transmission potential. Vertical transmission to seeds occurred at high rates in all maternal families regardless of their stroma production. Observed patterns of variation indicate that endophyte transmission mode and correlated changes in virulence can respond to selection by biotic and abiotic factors.     

A new group of endophytes in European grasses

Poaceae of subfamily Festucoideae frequently harbour endophytic, symbiotic fungi in their aerial parts. Isolations were made from 21 different species of Poaceae, belonging mainly to the genera Lolium and Festuca. Pure cultures of 45 fungal isolates were obtained. Morphology, isozyme and molecular analysis showed the presence of three groups of endophytes. Most of the isolates could be accommodated with the previously described species of Neotyphodium and Epichloë (the e endophytes). Two new endophytes isolated from Koeleria cristata and Melica ciliata were shown to belong to this group. Gliocladium like and Phialophora like isolates were obtained from Lolium perenne and Festuca gigantea respectively (the p endophytes). Nine isolates especially those from annual Lolium produced rod like conidia. These isolates belong to Acremonium sensu stricto and are morphologically similar to Acremonium chilense.     

Grass-herbivore interactions altered by strains of a native endophyte

Many plants support symbiotic microbes, such as endophytic fungi, that can alter interactions with herbivores. Most endophyte research has focused on agronomically important species, with less known about the ecological roles of native endophytes in native plants. In particular, whether genetic variation among endophyte symbionts affects herbivores of plant hosts remains unresolved for most native endophytes. Here, we investigate the importance of native isolates of the endophyte Epichlo? elymi in affecting herbivory of the native grass host, Elymus hystrix. Experimental fungal isolate-plant genotype combinations and endophyte-free control plants were grown in a common garden and exposed to natural arthropod herbivory. Fungal isolates differed in their effects on two types of herbivory, chewing and scraping. Isolates exhibiting greater sexual reproduction were associated with greater herbivore damage than primarily asexual isolates. Endophyte infection also altered patterns of herbivory within plants, with stroma-bearing tillers experiencing up to 30% greater damage than nonstroma-bearing tillers. Results suggest that intraspecific genetic variation in endophytes, like plant genetic variation, can have important 'bottom-up' effects on herbivores in native systems.     

Genetic diversity in epichloid endophytes of Hordelymus europaeus suggests repeated host jumps and interspecific hybridizations

Epichloid fungal endophytes (Epichloë and Neotyphodium spp.) are excellent model systems for studying speciation processes because of their variable life history traits that are linked to host grass fitness. Presumed jumps to new hosts and subsequent somatic hybridizations appear to be common among epichloid endophytes resulting in increased genetic variation upon which selection can act and speciation be initiated. In this study, we explored the endophyte diversity of a rare European native woodland grass species, Hordelymus europaeus, along a latitudinal transect covering the entire distribution range of H. europaeus. From 28 populations in six countries, isolates were sampled and molecularly characterized. Based on the sequences of tubB and tefA, six distinct epichloid taxa (interspecific hybrid or cryptic haploid species) were found, of which four were novel and two have been previously reported from this host. Of the novel endophytes, two were presumed to be interspecific hybrids and two of nonhybrid origin. While previously known endophytes of H. europaeus are seed‐born and strictly asexual, one of the novel nonhybrid endophytes found in the glacial refugium of the Apennine peninsula reproduced sexually in cultured plants. This is the first case of a seed‐borne, but sexually reproducing endophyte of this host. We discuss the origin, and possible ancestral species, of the six epichloid taxa using phylogenetic analyses. Repeated host jumps and somatic hybridizations characterize the diversity of the endophytes. To date, no other grass species is known to host a larger diversity of endophytes than H. europaeus.     

Widespread occurrence of Neotyphodium-like endophyte in populations of Bromus tomentellus Boiss. in Iran

Neotyphodium species occur as endophytic fungi in cool-season grasses around the world. The beneficial aspects of grass-Neotyphodium associations have provoked researchers to look for a novel association in plant species where this symbiotum has not been reported. We surveyed Russian bromegrass (Bromus tomentellus Boiss.) accessions from a germplasm collection for the presence of Neotyphodium spp. fungi and determined levels of endophyte infection in B. tomentellus populations in native rangelands of Iran. Among 50 collected accessions, symbiotic fungi were detected in 45 accessions without any symptoms of choke disease on host plants. In culture medium, fast-growing endophytes appeared from seeds after 7-14 days. Plants grown from seed collections were 80-100% infected. Based on morphological characteristics and PCR analysis, we concluded that this fungus is a member of the Neotyphodium group of endophytic fungi. Lack of apparent toxicity to grazing animals suggests a place for endophyte-infected B. tomentellus in rangeland renovation, providing this infected grass exhibits increased tolerance to abiotic stresses.     

Environmental effects on grass-endophyte associations in the harsh conditions of south Patagonia

Cool-season grasses are frequently infected by Neotyphodium endophytes and this association is often considered as a mutualistic symbiosis. We examined the incidence of Neotyphodium in populations of Bromus setifolius, Phleum alpinum and Poa spiciformis, native and wide-spread grasses from south Patagonia, Argentina. The incidence of 36 populations of Bromus setifolius was studied in association with climatic and soil variables. 31 populations of Ph. alpinum were sampled in five different plant communities. Seventeen populations of P. spiciformis were sampled in three different plant communities. The association between incidence and climatic variables in Ph. alpinum and between incidence and soil fertility in P. spiciformis was investigated. In B. setifolius endophyte incidence was positively correlated with annual average rainfall contrary to the results found in Ph. alpinum. All the populations of P. spiciformis were infected by endophytes and the incidence was associated with plant community. The Neotyphodium-grass interaction is variable in natural populations, supporting the increasing evidence that the Neotyphodium-host interaction depends, in many cases, on the environmental conditions. Field observations suggest that in detrimental low growth conditions the association is not favoured, leading to a decrease in the endophyte frequency of infection or even to the complete loss of the association.     

Characterization of a symbiotic,heterocystous, N2-fixing cyanobacterium fromCycas coralloid roots

A symbiotic, heterocystous, N₂-fixing blue-green alga, isolated from the coralloid roots of a xerophytic plant,Cycas revoluta, grew best in liquid medium supplemented with 4 mM NO ₃ ^– . Morphologically, the isolated alga was identical to that of the natural endophyte but the cell size had decreased markedly. The alga was heterotrophic. Intact coralloid roots had nearly 4 to 5 times more nitrogenase activity compared with natural- and laboratory-grown agla but nitrate reductase was inducible in both the forms. Plasmid(s) were found in both algal forms.     

Regeneration of black grama (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bouteloua eriopoda</Emphasis> torr. torr) plants via somatic embryogenesis

Summary Black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda) is an important forage grass in southwestern USA rangelands. Plants were regenerated by somatic embryogenesis. Surface-disinfested seeds were germinated and the embryonic shoots were excised and cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium gelled with agar. Callus was induced from apical meristems. Calluses were cultured on MS solid medium with six concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) or Dicamba (6-dichloro-o-anisic acid) for 6 wk under light or dark conditions. Somatic embryo induction was greatest on 4.52 μM Dicamba, under light, after transferring to an auxin-free medium. Embryo development progressed from globular torpedo to mature embryos phenotypically identical to those naturally produced in seed. These germinated and grew into intact plants and were established in soil and grown to maturity. To our knowledge, this is the first report of somatic embryo induction and regeneration in black grama grass.     

禾本科植物内生真菌研究 5.中国产部分epichloё内生真菌的遗传多样性

Epichloё内生真菌(epichloё endophytes)是禾本科植物的共生真菌,开展其多样性研究对菌株的生物学特性和进化规律的了解以及开发利用都有着十分重要的意义。本研究筛选了12条随机引物对24株epichloё内生真菌进行RAPD扩增,探讨真菌种类、宿主种类、采集地和菌株间的遗传多样性。结果表明,宿主为拂子茅Calamagrostis sp.、雀麦Bromus sp.、披碱草Elymus sp.、小颖羊茅Festuca parvigluma Steud.的菌株分别独立聚为一个分枝;而宿主为鹅观草Roegneria spp.的Neotyphodium属菌株聚类情况较为复杂;宿主为早熟禾Poas pp.的菌株分别在三个不同的分枝,表现出丰富的遗传多样性。以上结果反应了我国具有丰富的epichloё内生真菌资源,它们和其宿主之间有着比较明显的相互关系。本研究还显示,采集于南京的拂子茅与其内生真菌共生可能发生在较久远的年代。