Publication Date
1989
Description
The greatly improved performance of livestock consuming low-endophyte tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) forage has stimulated production of endophyte-free seed and replanting Acremonium coenophialum infected pastures (Stuedemann and Hoveland, 1988). Since endophytic fungi co-evolved with their host and are non-pathogenic, the endophyte-plant relationship is likely a mutualistic symbiosis (Bacon and Siegel, 1988). An important question arises as to whether tall fescue free of the endophyte will have the same productivity and persistence as infected grass in stressful environments. If the fungus benefits from the association by receiving nutrients, protection, reproduction, and dissemination, then the plant may be aided by enhanced growth, root development, drought tolerance, or toxin production to deter pest attack. In previous studies reviewed by Bacon and Siegel (1988), differences in plant response to stress by endophyte-free (EF) and endophyte-infected (EI) grasses generally were minimal, probably because comparisons were made using genetically dissimilar plant material and under mild environmental conditions. The objectives of our studies were to evaluate cloned EF and EI tall fescue plants for responses to N fertilizer rates, drought stress, and competitive fitness.
Citation
Hoveland, C S.; Bacon, C W.; and Hill, N S., "Mutualistic Symbiosis of Tall Fescue and Fungal Endophyte" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 7.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session6/7
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Mutualistic Symbiosis of Tall Fescue and Fungal Endophyte
The greatly improved performance of livestock consuming low-endophyte tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) forage has stimulated production of endophyte-free seed and replanting Acremonium coenophialum infected pastures (Stuedemann and Hoveland, 1988). Since endophytic fungi co-evolved with their host and are non-pathogenic, the endophyte-plant relationship is likely a mutualistic symbiosis (Bacon and Siegel, 1988). An important question arises as to whether tall fescue free of the endophyte will have the same productivity and persistence as infected grass in stressful environments. If the fungus benefits from the association by receiving nutrients, protection, reproduction, and dissemination, then the plant may be aided by enhanced growth, root development, drought tolerance, or toxin production to deter pest attack. In previous studies reviewed by Bacon and Siegel (1988), differences in plant response to stress by endophyte-free (EF) and endophyte-infected (EI) grasses generally were minimal, probably because comparisons were made using genetically dissimilar plant material and under mild environmental conditions. The objectives of our studies were to evaluate cloned EF and EI tall fescue plants for responses to N fertilizer rates, drought stress, and competitive fitness.
