ARS | Publication request: PLANT INOCULATION WITH OBLIGATE ENDOPHYTES FROM ARID RANGELAND GRASSES: IMPLICATIONS FOR WATER USAGE

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: February 17, 2006
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Endophytic inoculation of grasses can result in significant agronomic advantages including increased drought tolerance and disease resistance as well as enhanced water and nutrient uptake. While some endophytes can increase plant toxicity, others are thought to be strictly beneficial. New attempts to induce novel grass-endophyte associations with harmless endophytes are needed. By means of a novel biotechnology technique, we have transferred obligate biotrophic fungal endophytes from local rangeland grass species to novel host grasses. Important differences in root growth habbit and shoot/root ratio were apparent. Implications for plant water and nutrient uptake are discussed.