Role of endophytic fungi in salt tolerance increasing ofturfgrasses

Endophytic fungi from genus Neotyphodium make symbiotic association with many cool-season grasses. More than 100 species from 80 genera of grass family have been found to be endophyte host including lawns such as Lolium and Festuca. Endophytic fungi as a biological agent alter vegetative, morphological and physiological characters of host plants, improve growth and increase their stability against biotic and abiotic stresses. In order to evaluate the effects of this fungus in salt tolerance increasing of tall fescue, infected plant were selected by rose bengal staining method. Plant tillers were splited into two parts and one part was freed from endophyte using fungicides Fulicur and Propiconazol. New tillers from endophyte-infected and endophyte-free clones were transferred to Johnson,s nutrient solutions with half concentration. Salt with four levels, 0,Role of endophytic fungi in salt tolerance increasing ofturfgrasses0.5, 1 and 1.5 percent salt (NaCl) in three replicated and in a randomized complete block design were treated. Evaluated traits were tiller number, shoot weight, root weight, and crown weight per plant. Results showed that the influence of endophyte fungus was positive and significant on tiller number, shoot weight, root weight, and crown weight per plant. Results of this study showed that endophyte fungus has an important role in increase of plant tolerance against salinity stress.