Fungal Endophytes of Grasses: A Defensive Mutualism between Plants and Fungi
作者:
Keith Clay,
期刊:
Ecology
(WILEY Available online 1988)
卷期:
Volume 69,
issue 1
页码: 10-16
ISSN:0012-9658
年代: 1988
DOI:10.2307/1943155
出版商: Ecological Society of America
数据来源: WILEY
摘要:
Many grasses are infected by systemic fungal endophytes (family Clavicipitaceae, Ascomycetes) that produce pysiologically active alkaloids in the tissues of their hosts. Infection makes grasses toxic to domestic mammals and increases resistance to insect herbivores. Some grasses are sterilized by endophyte infection while remaining vegetatively vigorous; other infected grasses remain completely fertile. Experiments demonstrate that plant growth and seed production can be increased by infection. This symbiotic association may be a defensive mutualism in which the fungi defend their hosts against herbivory, thereby defending their own resources. Recent studies suggest that defensive mutualism of endophytes with grasses may be widespread.
点击下载:
PDF
(915KB)
返 回