Preliminary study of endophytic fungi in timothy (Phleum pratense) in Estonia

Triin Varvas,Kristina Kasekamp,Bellis Kullman

doi:10.5586/am.2013.006

Abstract

Timothy (Phleum pratense L.) is an important agricultural grass in Europe and North America, but there is little research into the occurrence and abundance of fungal endophyte species associated with this grass. The aim of this study was to identify fungal endophytes living within P. pratense and to determine if additional moisture applied during the growing season increases the diversity of endophytic fungi. We studied 58 isolates obtained from surface-sterilised blades of 60 P. pratense plants collected from Rõka Free Air Humidity Manipulation experimental plots (FAHM), Estonia. Morphological and molecular methods were used for isolate identification. As a result, 45 strains from 10 different taxa were identified, all belonging to Ascomycota. Five species were found to be new to P. pratense.

Highlights

Plants and fungi commonly have a mutualistic relationship and, in the case of endophytes, they reside inside plant tissue, mostly without causing disease (Carroll 1988; Clay, Schardl 2002)
The purpose of our study was to identify fungal endophytes living inside the leaves of P. pratense and to determine if differences in water treatments in the Free Air Humidity Manipulation experimental plots (FAHM) experimental area affect the diversity of endophytes
58 endophyte strains were isolated from the 60 plants

Summary

Introduction

Plants and fungi commonly have a mutualistic relationship and, in the case of endophytes, they reside inside plant tissue, mostly without causing disease (Carroll 1988; Clay, Schardl 2002). Sometimes impact from the environment can make these fungi parasitic or pathogenic to host plants (Schardl et al 1997; Meijer, Leuchtmann 1999; Schulz et al 1999; Kogel et al 2006; Johnson, Oelmüller 2009). Endophyte presence in plants has been shown to help them deal with prolonged periods of drought, excess moisture or light (Bouton et al 1993; Bier 1995; Marks, Clay 1996; Lewis et al 1997; Cheplick et al 2000; Malinowski, Belesky 2000).

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