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Fungal endophyte association with Brachiaria grasses and its influence on plant water status, total non-structural carbohydrates and biomass production under drought stress

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 19:57 authored by Odokonyero, K, Tina AcunaTina Acuna, Cardoso, JA, de la Cruz Jimenez, J, Rao, IM

Aims: The main aim was to evaluate the effect of endophytic association of Sarocladium implicatum on drought responses of Brachiaria grass cultivars under greenhouse conditions. We tested the hypothesis that endophyte association with Brachiaria improves tolerance to drought stress by maintaining plant water status and increasing dry matter content (DMC), total nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) contents and biomass.

Methods Five Brachiaria cultivars were grown in a greenhouse for 54 days, with (E+) and without (E-) endophyte under well-watered (WW) and drought-stressed (DS) conditions. Plant water status (measured as relative water content of leaf, RWC), leaf DMC, NSC contents and biomass were determined.

Results Endophyte association significantly increased leaf RWC but reduced DMC and biomass under DS. Endophyte reduced NSC contents under WW condition in one cultivar and reduced shoot, root and total biomass in another cultivar under DS. Effects of endophyte on response variables depended on cultivar and water regime, with significant interactions of these factors.

Conclusions Our results support the hypothesis that endophyte association improves plant water status by increasing RWC under DS. However, endophyte-induced reduction in plant attributes likeDMC, NSC and biomass presents metabolic costs to host plants which could negatively affect forage quality and yield.

History

Publication title

Plant and Soil

Volume

409

Issue

1-2

Pagination

273-282

ISSN

0032-079X

Department/School

Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA)

Publisher

Springer Netherlands

Place of publication

Netherlands

Rights statement

Copyright 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Plant product traceability and quality assurance (excl. forest products)

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