New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts

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A minimal effect of hydroponic culture of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) plants on infection with the endophyte Neotyphodium lolii

J. P. J. EERENS

AgResearch
Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre
Private Bag 3123
Hamilton, New Zealand

Abstract  Ryegrass seedlings with an unknown endophyte infection status were grown in hydroponic culture for 5 weeks as part of a ryegrass evaluation, to allow selections on different root types to be made. Of the 1920 plants grown, 132 were selected and planted out in the field. After a year, two ramets of each of the 132 plants were grown in hydroponic culture for a second period of 5 weeks and the level of endophyte infection was only then assessed. Endophyte strands were found in 98% of the 264 plants. Of each of the 5 endophyte-free plants, the duplicate plant contained endophyte. Endophyte infection was 100% in 18 of the 20 half-sibling (HS) ryegrass families used and 93% and 67% in the remaining two HS families. It is concluded that growing endophyte-infected perennial ryegrass plants in hydroponic culture has a minimal effect on the endophyte infection level.

Keywords  hydroponic culture; perennial ryegrass; Lolium perenne; Neotyphodium lolii; endophyte

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 1999, Vol. 42: 513-514

0028-8233/99/4204-0513 $7.00/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand 1999

Short communication

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (193K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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