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

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 draughted 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. © 1998 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.