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Aboveground Epichloë coenophiala-Grass Associations Do Not Affect Belowground Fungal Symbionts or Associated Plant, Soil Parameters.
Microb Ecol. 2016 10; 72(3):682-91.ME

Abstract

Cool season grasses host multiple fungal symbionts, such as aboveground Epichloë endophytes and belowground arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate endophytes (DSEs). Asexual Epichloë endophytes can influence root colonization by AMF, but the type of interaction-whether antagonistic or beneficial-varies. In Schedonorus arundinaceus (tall fescue), Epichloë coenophiala can negatively affect AMF, which may impact soil properties and ecosystem function. Within field plots of S. arundinaceus that were either E. coenophiala-free (E-), infected with the common, mammal-toxic E. coenophiala strain (CTE+), or infected with one of two novel, non-toxic strains (AR542 NTE+ and AR584 NTE+), we hypothesized that (1) CTE+ would decrease AMF and DSE colonization rates and reduce soil extraradical AMF hyphae compared to E- or NTE+, and (2) this would lead to E- and NTE+ plots having greater water stable soil aggregates and C than CTE+. E. coenophiala presence and strain did not significantly alter AMF or DSE colonization, nor did it affect extraradical AMF hypha length, soil aggregates, or aggregate-associated C and N. Soil extraradical AMF hypha length negatively correlated with root AMF colonization. Our results contrast with previous demonstrations that E. coenophiala symbiosis inhibits belowground AMF communities. In our mesic, relatively nutrient-rich grassland, E. coenophiala symbiosis did not antagonize belowground symbionts, regardless of strain. Manipulating E. coenophiala strains within S. arundinaceus may not significantly alter AMF communities and nutrient cycling, yet we must further explore these relationships under different soils and environmental conditions given that symbiont interactions can be important in determining ecosystem response to global change.

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Publisher Full Text (DOI)

Authors+Show Affiliations

Slaughter LC
N-222N Agricultural Science Center North, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, 1100 South Limestone, Lexington, KY, 40546-0091, USA. lincslau@gmail.com.
McCulley RL
N-222N Agricultural Science Center North, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, 1100 South Limestone, Lexington, KY, 40546-0091, USA.

MeSH

CarbonEcosystemEndophytesEpichloeFungiGrasslandHyphaeKentuckyMycorrhizaeNeotyphodiumNitrogenPlant RootsPlantsPoaceaeSoilSoil MicrobiologySymbiosisWater

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

27502203

Citation

Slaughter, Lindsey C., and Rebecca L. McCulley. "Aboveground Epichloë coenophiala-Grass Associations Do Not Affect Belowground Fungal Symbionts or Associated Plant, Soil Parameters." Microbial Ecology, vol. 72, no. 3, 2016, pp. 682-91.
Slaughter LC, McCulley RL. Aboveground Epichloë coenophiala-Grass Associations Do Not Affect Belowground Fungal Symbionts or Associated Plant, Soil Parameters. Microb Ecol. 2016;72(3):682-91.
Slaughter, L. C., & McCulley, R. L. (2016). Aboveground Epichloë coenophiala-Grass Associations Do Not Affect Belowground Fungal Symbionts or Associated Plant, Soil Parameters. Microbial Ecology, 72(3), 682-91. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-016-0828-3
Slaughter LC, McCulley RL. Aboveground Epichloë coenophiala-Grass Associations Do Not Affect Belowground Fungal Symbionts or Associated Plant, Soil Parameters. Microb Ecol. 2016;72(3):682-91. PubMed PMID: 27502203.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Aboveground Epichloë coenophiala-Grass Associations Do Not Affect Belowground Fungal Symbionts or Associated Plant, Soil Parameters. AU - Slaughter,Lindsey C, AU - McCulley,Rebecca L, Y1 - 2016/08/09/ PY - 2016/06/08/received PY - 2016/07/27/accepted PY - 2016/8/10/entrez PY - 2016/8/10/pubmed PY - 2017/8/29/medline KW - Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi KW - Carbon sequestration KW - Dark septate endophytes KW - Grasslands KW - Neotyphodium KW - Tall fescue SP - 682 EP - 91 JF - Microbial ecology JO - Microb Ecol VL - 72 IS - 3 N2 - Cool season grasses host multiple fungal symbionts, such as aboveground Epichloë endophytes and belowground arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate endophytes (DSEs). Asexual Epichloë endophytes can influence root colonization by AMF, but the type of interaction-whether antagonistic or beneficial-varies. In Schedonorus arundinaceus (tall fescue), Epichloë coenophiala can negatively affect AMF, which may impact soil properties and ecosystem function. Within field plots of S. arundinaceus that were either E. coenophiala-free (E-), infected with the common, mammal-toxic E. coenophiala strain (CTE+), or infected with one of two novel, non-toxic strains (AR542 NTE+ and AR584 NTE+), we hypothesized that (1) CTE+ would decrease AMF and DSE colonization rates and reduce soil extraradical AMF hyphae compared to E- or NTE+, and (2) this would lead to E- and NTE+ plots having greater water stable soil aggregates and C than CTE+. E. coenophiala presence and strain did not significantly alter AMF or DSE colonization, nor did it affect extraradical AMF hypha length, soil aggregates, or aggregate-associated C and N. Soil extraradical AMF hypha length negatively correlated with root AMF colonization. Our results contrast with previous demonstrations that E. coenophiala symbiosis inhibits belowground AMF communities. In our mesic, relatively nutrient-rich grassland, E. coenophiala symbiosis did not antagonize belowground symbionts, regardless of strain. Manipulating E. coenophiala strains within S. arundinaceus may not significantly alter AMF communities and nutrient cycling, yet we must further explore these relationships under different soils and environmental conditions given that symbiont interactions can be important in determining ecosystem response to global change. SN - 1432-184X UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/27502203/Aboveground_Epichloë_coenophiala_Grass_Associations_Do_Not_Affect_Belowground_Fungal_Symbionts_or_Associated_Plant_Soil_Parameters_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -