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Leaf endophytes affect mycorrhizal status and growth of co-infected and neighbouring plants

  1. M. OMACINI1,*,
  2. T. EGGERS2,
  3. M. BONKOWSKI3,
  4. A. C. GANGE4,
  5. T. H. JONES5

Article first published online: 12 MAY 2006

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2006.01099.x

Issue

Functional Ecology

Functional Ecology

Volume 20, Issue 2, pages 226–232, April 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

OMACINI, M., EGGERS, T., BONKOWSKI, M., GANGE, A. C. and JONES, T. H. (2006), Leaf endophytes affect mycorrhizal status and growth of co-infected and neighbouring plants. Functional Ecology, 20: 226–232. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2006.01099.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    NERC Centre for Population Biology, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY UK, and IFEVA/Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina,

  2. 2

    Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Osnabrück, 49069 Osnabrück, Germany,

  3. 3

    Institut für Zoologie, AG Tierökologie, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany,

  4. 4

    School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK, and

  5. 5

    Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3TL, UK

* †Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: omacini@ifeva.edu.ar

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 12 MAY 2006
  2. Article first published online: 12 MAY 2006
  3. Received 14 September 2005; revised 28 November 2005; accepted 9 December 2005 Editor: J. Cresswell

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Keywords:

  • indirect interaction;
  • Italian ryegrass;
  • mutualism;
  • plant–microbial symbioses;
  • soil feedback

Summary

  • 1
    Fungal leaf endophytes and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are common constituents of natural grasslands. The simultaneous presence of these two grass plant symbionts is highly probable.
  • 2
    We describe the results of a glasshouse experiment investigating the outcome of dual infection of a cool-season grass species, Lolium multiflorum, by the fungal endophyte Neotyphodium occultans and three species of Glomus AM fungi.
  • 3
    Mycorrhizal colonization was investigated on monocultures of plants with or without leaf endophytes, and on mixtures of endophyte-infected and uninfected plants. In both scenarios, endophyte-infected plants had lower levels of mycorrhizal colonization, but in the endophyte mixtures the presence of endophyte-infected plants caused an increase in AM colonization in non-endophyte-infected conspecific neighbours.
  • 4
    Host-plant biomass, nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) accumulation, and competitive ability were increased by the presence of endophytes. AM fungi did not improve host performance or nutrient content (concentration or accumulation) in the presence or absence of the endophyte.
  • 5
    Interactions between host plants and AM fungi are mediated by fungal endophyte infection. The implications of such modified interactions for ecosystem dynamics and functioning are considered.
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