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An asexual Epichloë endophyte modifies the nutrient stoichiometry of wild barley (Hordeum brevisubulatum) under salt stress

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Abstract

Background and aims

Salinization of soils causes severe problems to plant growth. With the important role of stoichiometry in many ecological processes, this study investigated the effect of an asexual Epichloë endophyte on the nutrient stoichiometry of wild barley (Hordeum brevisubulatum) under salt stress.

Methods

Plants with (E+) and without endophyte (E−) were subjected to different NaCl treatments (0, 150, 300, 450 and 600 mM). After 15 days, the dry weight as well as the carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) contents in the plants were determined.

Results

Salt stress significantly reduced the growth and nutrient absorption of wild barley. The biomass as well as the N, P and K+ contents were higher while the Na+ content was lower in E+ plants than in E− plants. However, there was no significant effect on C content between E+ and E− plants. The findings also showed that E+ plants had lower ratios of C:N, C:P, Na+:K+ and a higher ratio of N:P than E− plants.

Conclusions

The Epichloë endophyte played an important role in maintaining the growth of the host plants by promoting nutrient absorption and adjusting the ionic balance. The results have enhanced knowledge of the application of endophytes that will enable better crop production and ecological conservation.

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Acknowledgments

This study is supported by National Basic Research Program of China (2014CB138702), the Natural Science Foundation of China (31372366) and Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University of China (IRT13019). The authors would like to thank Chunping Zhang, Yahong Lei, Hui Lv and Shulan Su for their help of sample collecting and analyzing. Thanks to Richard Johnson for constructive comments which greatly improved the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Meiling Song, Qing Chai, Xiuzhang Li, Xiang Yao, Chunjie Li & Zhibiao Nan

  2. AgResearch, Grasslands Research Centre, Private Bag 11-008, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand

    Michael J. Christensen

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  1. Meiling Song
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  2. Qing Chai
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  3. Xiuzhang Li
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  4. Xiang Yao
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  5. Chunjie Li
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  7. Zhibiao Nan
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Correspondence to Chunjie Li.

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Responsible Editor: Frans J.M Maathuis .

Meiling Song and Qing Chai contributed equally to this work

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Song, M., Chai, Q., Li, X. et al. An asexual Epichloë endophyte modifies the nutrient stoichiometry of wild barley (Hordeum brevisubulatum) under salt stress. Plant Soil 387, 153–165 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2289-0

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