Incidence and isolation of endophyte in native grasses of Qinghai Plateau
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Abstract
The characteristics of high altitude and low temperature determined the diversity and heterogeneity of grass in Qinghai Plateau, however, there were fewer studies about grass endophytes in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The endophytic infection of native grasses collected from 48 locations in Qinghai Plateau were examined, meanwhile, endophyte were also isolated from infected grasses species. The results demonstrated that the average incidence of endophyte infection in 14 tested grass species were above 50%, however, that in 12 tested grasses were below 50%. The average incidence of endophyte infection in several grasses, such as Roeneria pendulina, Stipa purpurea, Achnatherum inebrians, Festuca sinensis, Poa sphondylodes, F. nitidula, F. kirilovii and F. rubra, were above 80%. Meanwhile, incidence of endophyte infection varied in same genus. The isolation frequency of endophyte was relative lower, the morphology of colonial and conidial varied among S. purpurea, Elymus tangutorum, P. psilolepis and S. aliena. It was concluded that the endophyte infection in native grass were higher in Qinghai Plateau and the endophyte might diversified among grass's species.
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