Jianfeng Wang1,2, Zhibiao Nan1,2, Michael J Christensen3, Xingxu Zhang1,2, Pei Tian1,2, Zhixin Zhang1,2, Xueli Niu1,2, Peng Gao1, Tao Chen1,2, Lixia Ma1,2. 1. The State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology , Lanzhou University , Lanzhou 730020 , Gansu , China. 2. Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture, China, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology , Lanzhou University , Lanzhou 730020 , Gansu China. 3. Retired scientist of AgResearch , Grasslands Research Centre , Private Bag 11-008, Palmerston North 4442 , New Zealand.
Abstract
The systemic fungal endophyte of the grass Achnatherum inebrians, Epichloë gansuensis, has important roles in enhancing resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. In this work, we first evaluated the effects of E. gansuensis on nitrogen metabolism, nitrogen use efficiency, and stoichiometry of A. inebrians under varying nitrogen concentrations. The results demonstrated that E. gansuensis significantly improved the growth of A. inebrians under low nitrogen conditions. The fresh and dry weights, nitrogen reductase, nitrite reductase, and glutamine synthetase activity, NO3-, NH4+, N, and P content, and also the total N accumulation, N utilization efficiency, and N uptake efficiency were all higher in leaves of A. inebrians with E. ganusensis (E+) plants than A. inebrians plants without this endophyte (E-) under low nitrogen availability. In conclusion, E. gansuensis has positive effects on improving the growth of A. inebrians under low-nitrogen conditions by modulating the enzymes of nitrogen metabolism and enhancing nitrogen use efficiency.
The systemic fungal endophyte of the grass pan> class="Species">Achnatherum inebrians, Epichloë gansuensis, has important roles in enhancing resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. In this work, we first evaluated the effects of E. gansuensis on nitrogen metabolism, nitrogen use efficiency, and stoichiometry of A. inebrians under varying nitrogen concentrations. The results demonstrated that E. gansuensis significantly improved the growth of A. inebrians under low nitrogen conditions. The fresh and dry weights, nitrogen reductase, nitrite reductase, and glutamine synthetase activity, NO3-, NH4+, N, and P content, and also the total N accumulation, N utilization efficiency, and N uptake efficiency were all higher in leaves of A. inebrians with E. ganusensis (E+) plants than A. inebrians plants without this endophyte (E-) under low nitrogen availability. In conclusion, E. gansuensis has positive effects on improving the growth of A. inebrians under low-nitrogen conditions by modulating the enzymes of nitrogen metabolism and enhancing nitrogen use efficiency.