<Emphasis Type="Italic">Heteroepichloë</Emphasis>, gen. nov. (Clavicipitaceae; Ascomycotina) on bamboo plants in East Asia

The causal agents of witches' broom of bamboo plants in East Asia, Epichloë bambusae and E. sasae, were morphologically and phylogenetically examined. The phylogenetic studies were conducted using ITS 1, 2, and 5.8 S rDNA regions. Both Epichloë species produce Ephelis-type conidia in artificial medium and are phylogenetically situated in different clades from Epichloë and Parepichloë. Here, we propose a new genus Heteroepichloë for these two bambsicolous Epichloë species.     

感染羽茅的香柱菌属内生真菌对丛枝菌根真菌孢子萌发的影响

内生真菌与丛枝菌根(AM)真菌是构成草原生态系统的重要组成部分.内生真菌会抑制其宿主植物的AM真菌侵染率.本研究以感染2种香柱菌属内生真菌[Epichloё gansuensis(Eg)和E. sibirica(Es)]的天然禾草羽茅为供试材料,进行体外纯培养的内生真菌培养滤液、感染内生真菌的羽茅叶片(包括鲜叶和枯叶)浸提液,以及根系分泌物对摩西球囊霉(Gm)和幼套球囊霉(Ge)2种AM真菌孢子萌发影响试验.结果表明: 香柱菌属内生真菌的培养滤液会显著抑制2种AM真菌孢子的萌发,而感染香柱菌属内生真菌的羽茅根系分泌物只对Ge孢子萌发有显著抑制作用,且上述抑制作用与内生真菌种类无关;鲜叶浸提液对Gm和Ge的孢子萌发率均无显著影响,而枯叶浸提液对Ge的孢子萌发有显著抑制作用.在自然生态系统中,香柱菌属内生真菌通常存在于宿主植物体内,可能通过影响宿主植物的根系分泌物来影响AM真菌孢子的萌发.     

禾本科植物内生真菌研究5. 中国产部分epichlo?内生真菌的遗传多样性

Epichlo?内生真菌（epichlo? 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epichlo?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Poa spp.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epichlo?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。     

Effects of endophyte infection on the competitive ability of Achnatherum sibiricum depend on endophyte species and nitrogen availability

Aims The leaves of almost all terrestrial plant species are colonized by endophytic fungi. Compared to agronomic grasses, which usually harbor few endophytes, native grasses generally possess greater endophyte species diversity. Existing studies examining endophyte effects on natural grasses under competition normally considered the infection status (infected or uninfected), and rarely considered endophyte species.     

Variable effects of endophytic fungus on seedling establishment of fine fescues

Seedborne systemic endophytic fungi of grasses are thought to be plant mutualists, because they have been shown to improve their host’s resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses. The interactions in plant–endophyte associations vary from mutualistic to parasitic with environmental conditions and the genotypes of interacting species. The possible pros and cons of endophytic fungi are expected to be most evident during the seedling establishment, where host fitness is most directly affected. If this holds true, endophytes may play a focal role in local adaptation of hosts to different environments. We examined if endophyte-infected and uninfected seeds and seedlings of two native grass species, Festuca rubra and F. ovina, differ in seed germination and seedling growth rates under greenhouse conditions. The germination of F. rubra seeds was also studied in the field. This is the first time that the effects of Epichloë endophyte on seedling establishment of fine fescues from natural populations have been experimentally evaluated. Mother plant (seed family) had a marked effect on many response variables in both grass species. Length and mean biomass of tillers of endophyte-infected (E+) F. ovina seedlings were lower, but root:shoot ratios were higher than in endophyte-free (E?) seedlings. In F. rubra, the effects of the endophyte were dependent on the habitat where the seeds were collected. The E+ seeds from river banks germinated faster than E+ seeds from meadows, and E+ seedlings from the river banks produced fewer but taller and heavier tillers than the other seedlings. Our data suggest that the effects of the endophyte infection on the seedling stage of fine fescues are dependent the species of grass, host genetic background and mother plant habitat. The germination strategy and growth form of E+ red fescue seedlings from river banks may be beneficial to surviving in the harsh conditions of that habitat.     

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。