Dataset Information

Tall Fescue and E. coenophiala Genetics Influence Root-Associated Soil Fungi in a Temperate Grassland.

ABSTRACT: A constitutive, host-specific symbiosis exists between the aboveground fungal endophyte Epichloë coenophiala (Morgan-Jones & W. Gams) and the cool-season grass tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh.), which is a common forage grass in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and temperate European grasslands. New cultivars of tall fescue are continually developed to improve pasture productivity and animal health by manipulating both grass and E. coenophiala genetics, yet how these selected grass-endophyte combinations impact other microbial symbionts such as mycorrhizal and dark septate fungi remains unclear. Without better characterizing how genetically distinct grass-endophyte combinations interact with belowground microorganisms, we cannot determine how adoption of new E. coenophiala-symbiotic cultivars in pasture systems will influence long-term soil characteristics and ecosystem function. Here, we examined how E. coenophiala presence and host × endophyte genetic combinations control root colonization by belowground symbiotic fungi and associated plant nutrient concentrations and soil properties in a 2-year manipulative field experiment. We used four vegetative clone pairs of tall fescue that consisted of one endophyte-free (E-) and one E. coenophiala-symbiotic (E+) clone each, where E+ clones within each pair contained one of four endophyte genotypes: CTE14, CTE45, NTE16, or NTE19. After 2 years of growth in field plots, we measured root colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate endophytes (DSE), extraradical AMF hyphae in soil, total C, N, and P in root and shoot samples, as well as C and N in associated soils. Although we observed no effects of E. coenophiala presence or symbiotic genotype on total AMF or DSE colonization rates in roots, different grass-endophyte combinations altered AMF arbuscule presence and extraradical hyphal length in soil. The CTE45 genotype hosted the fewest AMF arbuscules regardless of endophyte presence, and E+ clones within NTE19 supported significantly greater soil extraradical hyphae compared to E- clones. Because AMF are often associated with improved soil physical characteristics and C sequestration, our results suggest that development and use of unique grass-endophyte combinations may cause divergent effects on long-term ecosystem properties.

SUBMITTER: Slaughter LC

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6843077 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Tall Fescue and E. coenophiala Genetics Influence Root-Associated Soil Fungi in a Temperate Grassland.

Slaughter Lindsey C LC Nelson Jim A JA Carlisle A Elizabeth AE Bourguignon Marie M Dinkins Randy D RD Phillips Timothy D TD McCulley Rebecca L RL

Frontiers in microbiology 20191015

A constitutive, host-specific symbiosis exists between the aboveground fungal endophyte Epichloë coenophiala (Morgan-Jones & W. Gams) and the cool-season grass tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh.), which is a common forage grass in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and temperate European grasslands. New cultivars of tall fescue are continually developed to improve pasture productivity and animal health by manipulating both grass and E. coenophiala ge ...[more]

PMID: 31749767

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Project description:The plant breeding program has developed many cultivars of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) with low maintenance and stress tolerance. While the root-associated microbial community helps confer stress tolerance in the host plant, it is still largely unknown how the microbiota varies with plant cultivars under water stress. The study aimed to characterize drought-responsive bacteria and fungi in the roots and rhizosphere of different tall fescue cultivars. Intact grass-soil cores were collected from six cultivars grown in a field trial under no-irrigation for 3 years. Tall fescue under irrigation was also sampled from an adjacent area as the contrast. Bacterial and fungal communities in roots, rhizosphere, and bulk soil were examined for abundance, diversity, and composition using quantitative-PCR and high-throughput amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA gene and ITS regions, respectively. Differences in microbial community composition and structure between non-irrigated and irrigated samples were statistically significant in all three microhabitats. No-irrigation enriched Actinobacteria in all three microhabitats, but mainly enriched Basidiomycota in the root endosphere and only Glomeromycota in bulk soil. Tall fescue cultivars slightly yet significantly modified endophytic microbial communities. Cultivars showing better adaptability to drought encompassed more relatively abundant Actinobacteria, Basidiomycota, or Glomeromycota in roots and the rhizosphere. PICRUSt2-based predictions revealed that the relative abundance of functional genes in roots related to phytohormones, antioxidant enzymes, and nutrient acquisition was enhanced under no-irrigation. Significant associations between Streptomyces and putative drought-ameliorating genes underscore possible mechanics for microbes to confer tall fescue with water stress tolerance. This work sheds important insight into the potential use of endophytic microbes for screening drought-adaptive genotypes and cultivars.

Dataset Information

Tall Fescue and E. coenophiala Genetics Influence Root-Associated Soil Fungi in a Temperate Grassland.

Publications

Tall Fescue and <i>E. coenophiala</i> Genetics Influence Root-Associated Soil Fungi in a Temperate Grassland.

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