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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #198390
Title: PLANT INOCULATION WITH OBLIGATE ENDOPHYTES FROM ARID RANGELAND GRASSES: IMPLICATIONS FOR WATER USAGE

Author
item REYES-VERA, ISSAC - NEW MEXICO STATE UNIV
item Lucero, Mary
item Barrow, Jerry

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/17/2006
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

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.