Endophytes influence protection and growth of an invasive plant.
We investigated the symbiotic activities of fungal endophytes isolated from spotted knapweed, Centaurea stoebe. Previously, an analysis of community similarity had demonstrated differences in the endophyte communities of C. stoebe in its native and invaded ranges. Here, we found that specific endophytes can exert positive effects on their host, whereas others exert negative effects. Endophytes produced metabolites that inhibited germination of a competitor of C. stoebe. Endophytes also repelled a specialist insect herbivore, perhaps by producing biologically active volatiles. Yet other endophytes acted as cryptic pathogens of C. stoebe, suppressing its germination, reducing its growth, increasing the abundance of a generalist insect herbivore, and delaying or suppressing its flowering. Since, as reported here, endophytes are not functionally interchangeable, previously reported community differences could be contributing to the invasiveness of C. stoebe.
Newcombe
George
G
Department of Forest Resources; Center for Research on Invasive Species and Small Populations; Department of Plant, Soil and Entomological Sciences; Department of Fish and Wildlife; Department of Fish and Wildlife; Environmental Science Program; University of Idaho; Moscow, Idaho USA; INRES-Phytomedizin; Bonn, Germany.
Shipunov
Alexey
A
Eigenbrode
Sd
S
Raghavendra
Anil Kh
AKh
Ding
H
H
Anderson
Cort L
CL
Menjivar
R
R
Crawford
M
M
Schwarzländer
M
M
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