Effects of the Epichloë gansuensis endophyte on the physiological status of Achnatherum inebrians under different nitrogen concentrations

doi:10.11686/cyxb2023314

Abstract

Abstract:

Nitrogen is an essential macronutrient for plant growth and development， and endophytic fungi can influence nitrogen metabolism in the host. The endophyte Epichlo? gansuensis forms a symbiotic relationship with Achnatherum inebrians， also known as drunken horse grass. The effect of endophytic fungi on the host’s nitrogen metabolism is dependent on the surrounding nitrogen concentrations. In this study， A. inebrians plants infected with the Epichlo? gansuensis endophyte （E+） or not infected （E-） were grown under low （0.01 mmol·L^–1 N） and normal （7.5 mmol·L^–1 N） nitrogen levels for 6 months. The harvested materials were analyzed to determine leaf dry weight， hydrogen peroxide （H₂O₂） content， malondialdehyde （MDA） content， and other physiological and biochemical indices. The results revealed that： 1） Under low-nitrogen conditions， compared with E- A. inebrians plants， E+ A. inebrians plants showed significantly increased plant height， dry weight， tiller number， glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase （G6PDH） activity， reduced glutathione （GSH） content， and nitrogen content， and significantly decreased MDA and H₂O₂ contents. However， the carbon （C） and phosphorus （P） leaf contents， and the C∶N， C∶P， and N∶P ratios in the plants did not differ significantly between the E+ and E- plants. 2） Under normal-N conditions， compared with E- plants， E+ plants showed significantly increased plant height， but no significant difference in dry weight， tiller number， MDA and H₂O₂ contents， and GSH and G6PDH activity. Taken together， these findings suggest that E. gansuensis infection can enhance the growth of A. inebrians under low-nitrogen conditions by increasing G6PDH activity and GSH content， reducing H₂O₂ and MDA content， and promoting nitrogen uptake， thereby increasing leaf dry weight and tiller numbers. However， the impact of E. gansuensis on A. inebrians plants under normal N levels is limited.

Key words: Achnatherum inebrians, endophytic fungi, nitrogen concentrations, physiological status

Mao-hua DENG, Rong ZHENG, Bei-chen WANG, Chao WANG, Rong-gui LIU, Han-wen ZHANG, Zheng-he WANG, Jian-feng WANG. Effects of the Epichloë gansuensis endophyte on the physiological status of Achnatherum inebrians under different nitrogen concentrations[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2024, 33(7): 182-191.

Figures/Tables 10

References 39

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处理 Treatments	df	叶片干重 Dry weight of blades		株高 Plant height		分蘖数 Number of tillers
处理 Treatments	df	F	P	F	P	F	P
N营养浓度Nitrogen nutrient concentration	1	82.330	<0.001	42.990	<0.001	81.120	<0.001
内生真菌Endophytic fungi	1	0.140	0.712	33.750	<0.001	14.820	<0.001
氮营养浓度×内生真菌Nitrogen nutrient concentration×endophytic fungi	1	1.187	0.289	1.743	0.202	5.400	0.022

处理 Treatments	df	叶片干重 Dry weight of blades		株高 Plant height		分蘖数 Number of tillers
处理 Treatments	df	F	P	F	P	F	P
N营养浓度Nitrogen nutrient concentration	1	82.330	<0.001	42.990	<0.001	81.120	<0.001
内生真菌Endophytic fungi	1	0.140	0.712	33.750	<0.001	14.820	<0.001
氮营养浓度×内生真菌Nitrogen nutrient concentration×endophytic fungi	1	1.187	0.289	1.743	0.202	5.400	0.022

处理 Treatments	df	过氧化氢 H₂O₂		丙二醛 MDA
处理 Treatments	df	F	P	F	P
N营养浓度Nitrogen nutrient concentration	1	35.253	<0.001	246.253	<0.001
内生真菌Endophytic fungi	1	10.313	0.012	8.246	0.021
氮营养浓度×内生真菌Nitrogen nutrient concentration×endophytic fungi	1	6.966	0.030	18.619	0.003

处理 Treatments	df	过氧化氢 H₂O₂		丙二醛 MDA
处理 Treatments	df	F	P	F	P
N营养浓度Nitrogen nutrient concentration	1	35.253	<0.001	246.253	<0.001
内生真菌Endophytic fungi	1	10.313	0.012	8.246	0.021
氮营养浓度×内生真菌Nitrogen nutrient concentration×endophytic fungi	1	6.966	0.030	18.619	0.003

处理 Treatments	df	还原性谷胱甘肽 GSH		葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶 G6PDH
处理 Treatments	df	F	P	F	P
N营养浓度Nitrogen nutrient concentration	1	288.759	<0.001	3.166	0.113
内生真菌Endophytic fungi	1	29.737	<0.001	6.080	0.039
氮营养浓度×内生真菌Nitrogen nutrient concentration×endophytic fungi	1	33.597	<0.001	9.358	0.016