Evaluation of endophytic fungi for increasing drought and salt tolerance and stability of turfgrasses and study of endophytic fungi presence in Ulmus glabra and Platanus orientalis.
2007
Khayyam Neku`i, Mojtaba | Mohammadi, Reza
Endophytic fungi from genus Neotyphodium make symbiotic association with many cool-season grasses. More than 100 species from 80 genera of grass family have been found to be endophyte host including lawns such as Lolium and Festuca. Endophytic fungi as a biological agent alter vegetative, morphological and physiological characters of host plants, improve growth and increase their stability against biotic and abiotic stresses. In order to evaluate the effects of this fungus on improvement characteristics of Iranian tall fescue, infected plant were selected by rose bengal staining method. Plant tillers were splited into two parts and one part was freed from endophyte using fungicide solutions. New tillers from endophyte-infected and endophyte-free clones were transferred to separate pots. In several study effect of endophytic fungi investigated on improvement phenotypic characteristics and abiotic stress of tall fescue. Results showed that the influence of endophyte fungus was positive and significant on tiller number, herbage yield, root weight per plant, and crown weight. Results of abiotic stress study showed that endophyte fungus has an important role in increase of plant tolerance against drought and salinity stresses. Selection of the best turfgrass cultivars and accessions was a subjective in this study. Turfgrass quality traits were evaluated on a 1 to 9 rating scale (like genetic color, density and leaf texture). In this study a rating of 7 or above accepted. The selected genotypes of turfgrass cultivars and endophyte infected accessions planted in a polycross crossing farm. Endophytic fungi are mutualistic symbionts within the host, conferring resistance against insect pests and sources of novel natural products. Endophytic fungi presence in Ulmus glabra and Platanus orientalis investigated in some selected trees. After a plant selected for study, small stem pieces cut from the plant and placed in sealed plastic bags after excess moisture is removed. Every attempt is made to store the materials at 4 ؛C until isolation procedures can begin. In the laboratory, plant materials were thoroughly surface treated with 90% ethanol for 3 min and were then surface sterilized for 20 min in a solution of 70% commercial Chlorox and placed on potato dextrose agar plates and incubated at 25 ؛C. After 2-3 weeks of incubation, hyphal tips of the fungi grew on plates. Results of this study showed that endophytic fungi have an important role in increase of plant tolerance against abiotic stresses. Therefore we can use endophytic fungi as a biological agent to improve turfgrass stability.
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