Widespread occurrence of Neotyphodium-like endophyte in populations of Bromus tomentellus Boiss. in Iran.
Neotyphodium species occur as endophytic fungi in cool-season grasses around the world. The beneficial aspects of grass-Neotyphodium associations have provoked researchers to look for a novel association in plant species where this symbiotum has not been reported. We surveyed Russian bromegrass (Bromus tomentellus Boiss.) accessions from a germplasm collection for the presence of Neotyphodium spp. fungi and determined levels of endophyte infection in B. tomentellus populations in native rangelands of Iran. Among 50 collected accessions, symbiotic fungi were detected in 45 accessions without any symptoms of choke disease on host plants. In culture medium, fast-growing endophytes appeared from seeds after 7-14 days. Plants grown from seed collections were 80-100% infected. Based on morphological characteristics and PCR analysis, we concluded that this fungus is a member of the Neotyphodium group of endophytic fungi. Lack of apparent toxicity to grazing animals suggests a place for endophyte-infected B. tomentellus in rangeland renovation, providing this infected grass exhibits increased tolerance to abiotic stresses.
Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran. mirlohi@wsu.edu
Aghafakhr
A
Mirlohi
Mohammad R
MR
Sabzalian
Bahram
B
Sharifnabi
Mojtaba Khayyam
MK
Nekoui
D031724:Bromus / Q000382:microbiology*; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics; D006999:Hypocreales / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D007492:Iran; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012639:Seeds / Q000382:microbiology
D017931:DNA Primers; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer