A fitful fungus from a hot, arid climate increases grain yield in cool-cultivated barley
File Type:
PDFItem Type:
Journal ArticleDate:
2014Access:
openAccessCitation:
Brian R. Murphy, Fiona M. Doohan, Trevor R Hodkinson, 'A fitful fungus from a hot, arid climate increases grain yield in cool-cultivated barley', Graduate Students’ Union of the University of Dublin, Trinity College, Journal of Postgraduate Research;13, 2014Download Item:
Abstract:
Purpose
The fungus Piriformospora indica was first isolated from plants growing in
arid, hot desert conditions and has been shown to have significant potential
as a biocontrol and biofertilising organism in barley under optimal growth
conditions. However, it was not thought to be effective in plants grown in low
temperatures and has consequently not been well tested in cold-stressed crops.
This study sought to determine the effects of inoculating barley plants with this
fungus in cool growth conditions with variable nutrient input.
Methods
Three barley varieties were inoculated with P. indica and two other fungal
root endophytes, Chaetomium globosum and Epicoccum nigrum, in a controlled
environment under low temperature stress with variable nutrient input, and
measured growth, development and yield.
Results
With the higher nutrient input, the P.indica-inoculated plants flowered earlier
and had 22% greater grain yield than the control. The other two endophytes, C.
globosum and E. nigrum, conferred no significant benefits under either nutrient
regime.
Conclusions
Piriformospora indica is easy to culture and propagate, and may have significant
biofertilisation potential as a crop treatment for barley grown in cool climates
enable the profitable cultivation of barley in previously marginal sites and
reduce the carbon footprint of barley through increased nitrogen use efficiency.
Publisher:
Graduate Students’ Union of the University of Dublin, Trinity CollegeType of material:
Journal ArticleCollections:
Series/Report no:
Journal of Postgraduate Research;13Availability:
Full text availableKeywords:
symbiosis., low temperature and nutrient stress, fungal root endophytes, biofertilisation, BarleyISSN:
2009-4787Licences: