New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts

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Influence of the ryegrass endophyte (Neotyphodium lolii) in a cool-moist environment III. Interaction with white clover

J. P. J. EERENS
AgResearch
Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre
Private Bag 3123
Hamilton, New Zealand

R. J. LUCAS
Department of Plant Science
Lincoln University
P. O. Box 84
Canterbury, New Zealand

H. S. EASTON
AgResearch
Grasslands Research Centre
Private Bag 11008
Palmerston North, New Zealand

J. G. H. WHITE
Department of Plant Science
Lincoln University
P. O. Box 84
Canterbury, New Zealand

Abstract  White clover was grown together with either endophyte-free or endophyte-infected (strain either AR6 or wildtype) Nui ryegrass under four environmental conditions (covering low or moderate temperatures, moist or droughted soil, clippings removed or returned) in a glasshouse experiment. The presence of wildtype endophyte in ryegrass plants had in general, but especially under optimal growing conditions, a significant positive effect (P < 0.05) on white clover stolon length, number of growing points, and the number of nodules. No endophyte effect was observed on the distribution of nodules over root depth, size, and colour classes under any environment. It is postulated that endophyte-associated compounds in root leachates may have an effect on mycorrhiza, the size of the effect increasing with the level of abiotic stress to which ryegrass plants are subjected.

Keywords  morphology; Neotyphodium lolii; nodules; perennial ryegrass; Southland; Trifolium repens; white clover

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 1998, Vol. 41: 201-207

0028-8233/98/4102-0201 $7.00/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand 1998

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (559K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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