| Summary: | To more clearly clarify the relationship between the <i>Epichloë</i> endophyte and its host, <i>F. sinensis</i>, the effects of <i>Epichloë</i> endophyte on <i>F. sinensis</i> performance under heavy metal treatment was investigated. The growth performance and physiology variations of <i>F. sinensis</i> with (E+) and without the endophyte (E−) were evaluated after they were subjected to Zn<sup>2+</sup> and Cd<sup>2+</sup> treatments. The results showed that heavy metal treatments had significant effects on plants, as the performance of plants under Zn<sup>2+</sup> and Cd<sup>2+</sup> treatments was significantly different with plants under control treatment (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Cd<sup>2+</sup> treatments showed a hormesis effect, whereas Zn<sup>2+</sup> did not. The endophyte increased host heavy metal stress tolerance by promoting host growth as the E+ plants had significantly higher plant height, tiller number, root length (<i>p <</i> 0.05). The endophyte also promoted ion uptake by the host and induced endogenous hormone production (<i>p <</i> 0.05). These results suggested that the <i>Epichloë</i> endophyte regulated host growth and physiology to improve association tolerance to environmental conditions. This study provides another example that the <i>Epichloë</i> endophyte can increase plant tolerance to metal stress.
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