Removal of Soil Microbes Alters Interspecific Competitiveness of <i>Epichloë</i> Endophyte-Infected over Endophyte-Free <i>Leymus chinensis</i>
<i>Epichloë</i> endophytes may not only affect the growth and resistances of host grasses, but may also affect soil environment including soil microbes. Can <i>Epichloë</i> endophyte-mediated modification of soil microbes affect the competitive ability of ho...
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MDPI AG
2020-02-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/2/219 |
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| author | Hui Liu Jing Chen Tianzi Qin Xinjian Shi Yubao Gao Anzhi Ren |
| author_facet | Hui Liu Jing Chen Tianzi Qin Xinjian Shi Yubao Gao Anzhi Ren |
| author_sort | Hui Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Epichloë</i> endophytes may not only affect the growth and resistances of host grasses, but may also affect soil environment including soil microbes. Can <i>Epichloë</i> endophyte-mediated modification of soil microbes affect the competitive ability of host grasses? In this study, we tested whether <i>Epichloë</i> endophytes and soil microbes alter intraspecific competition between <i>Epichloë</i> endophyte-colonized (EI) and endophyte-free (EF) <i>Leymus chinensis</i> and interspecific competition between <i>L. chinensis</i> and <i>Stipa krylovii</i>. The results demonstrated that <i>Epichloë</i> endophyte colonization significantly enhanced the intraspecific competitive ability of <i>L. chinensis</i> and that this beneficial effect was not affected by soil microbes. Under interspecific competition, however, significant interactions between <i>Epichloë</i> endophytes and soil microbes were observed. The effect of <i>Epichloë</i> endophytes on interspecific competitiveness of the host changed from positive to neutral with soil microbe removal. Here higher mycorrhizal colonization rates probably contributed to interspecific competitive advantages of EI over EF <i>L. chinensis</i>. Our result suggests that <i>Epichloë</i> endophytes can influence the competitive ability of the host through plant soil feedbacks from the currently competing plant species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T04:16:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-56aeb776aae14644bad37f6c6f26a007 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T04:16:31Z |
| publishDate | 2020-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-56aeb776aae14644bad37f6c6f26a0072022-12-22T03:02:57ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072020-02-018221910.3390/microorganisms8020219microorganisms8020219Removal of Soil Microbes Alters Interspecific Competitiveness of <i>Epichloë</i> Endophyte-Infected over Endophyte-Free <i>Leymus chinensis</i>Hui Liu0Jing Chen1Tianzi Qin2Xinjian Shi3Yubao Gao4Anzhi Ren5College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China<i>Epichloë</i> endophytes may not only affect the growth and resistances of host grasses, but may also affect soil environment including soil microbes. Can <i>Epichloë</i> endophyte-mediated modification of soil microbes affect the competitive ability of host grasses? In this study, we tested whether <i>Epichloë</i> endophytes and soil microbes alter intraspecific competition between <i>Epichloë</i> endophyte-colonized (EI) and endophyte-free (EF) <i>Leymus chinensis</i> and interspecific competition between <i>L. chinensis</i> and <i>Stipa krylovii</i>. The results demonstrated that <i>Epichloë</i> endophyte colonization significantly enhanced the intraspecific competitive ability of <i>L. chinensis</i> and that this beneficial effect was not affected by soil microbes. Under interspecific competition, however, significant interactions between <i>Epichloë</i> endophytes and soil microbes were observed. The effect of <i>Epichloë</i> endophytes on interspecific competitiveness of the host changed from positive to neutral with soil microbe removal. Here higher mycorrhizal colonization rates probably contributed to interspecific competitive advantages of EI over EF <i>L. chinensis</i>. Our result suggests that <i>Epichloë</i> endophytes can influence the competitive ability of the host through plant soil feedbacks from the currently competing plant species.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/2/219<i>leymus chinensis</i><i>epichloë</i> endophytesoil microbeintraspecific competitioninterspecific competition<i>stipa krylovii</i> |
| spellingShingle | Hui Liu Jing Chen Tianzi Qin Xinjian Shi Yubao Gao Anzhi Ren Removal of Soil Microbes Alters Interspecific Competitiveness of <i>Epichloë</i> Endophyte-Infected over Endophyte-Free <i>Leymus chinensis</i> Microorganisms <i>leymus chinensis</i> <i>epichloë</i> endophyte soil microbe intraspecific competition interspecific competition <i>stipa krylovii</i> |
| title | Removal of Soil Microbes Alters Interspecific Competitiveness of <i>Epichloë</i> Endophyte-Infected over Endophyte-Free <i>Leymus chinensis</i> |
| title_full | Removal of Soil Microbes Alters Interspecific Competitiveness of <i>Epichloë</i> Endophyte-Infected over Endophyte-Free <i>Leymus chinensis</i> |
| title_fullStr | Removal of Soil Microbes Alters Interspecific Competitiveness of <i>Epichloë</i> Endophyte-Infected over Endophyte-Free <i>Leymus chinensis</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Removal of Soil Microbes Alters Interspecific Competitiveness of <i>Epichloë</i> Endophyte-Infected over Endophyte-Free <i>Leymus chinensis</i> |
| title_short | Removal of Soil Microbes Alters Interspecific Competitiveness of <i>Epichloë</i> Endophyte-Infected over Endophyte-Free <i>Leymus chinensis</i> |
| title_sort | removal of soil microbes alters interspecific competitiveness of i epichloe i endophyte infected over endophyte free i leymus chinensis i |
| topic | <i>leymus chinensis</i> <i>epichloë</i> endophyte soil microbe intraspecific competition interspecific competition <i>stipa krylovii</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/2/219 |
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