Fungal endophyte diversity in Paspalum and effects on plant growth

In natural ecosystems, plants appear to be in symbiosis with diverse fungal endophytes which can have impacts on plant communities. Paspalum is one of the most important grass genera in South American grasslands. The aim of this work was to determine the presence of fungal endophytes in two Paspalum species and evaluate their effects on plant growth. Sixty plant samples were collected for Paspalum notatum in a rangeland in northeastern Argentina, and the same number for Paspalum dilatatum in central Argentina. A triple-sterilization process was carried out by submerging small pieces of leaves and stems for the isolation of fungi from the collected plants. In order to identify endophytes, morphological characters and fungal sequences corresponding to the ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer) region were analysed. A total of eight genera were identified: Acremonium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Bipolaris, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Penicillium and Trichoderma. A greenhouse trial was conducted to determine the effects of fungal endophytes on growth. Trichoderma significantly increased relative chlorophyll content in P. notatum and Acremonium endophytes increased tiller number, and above- and below-ground biomass in P. dilatatum. The diversity of fungal endophytes that was present in P. notatum and P. dilatatum was described. In conclusion, some aspects of growth of these Paspalum species seem to be positively affected by Trichoderma and Acremonium.

Fil: Depetris, Mara Belén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario; Argentina

Fil: Acuña, Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; Argentina

Fil: Gutiérrez, Susana Alejandra. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste; Argentina

Fil: Marcón, Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; Argentina

Fil: Felitti, Silvina Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario; Argentina