Influence of Tall Fescue Epichloë Endophytes on Rhizosphere Soil Microbiome

Tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) S.J. Darbyshire) often forms a symbiotic relationship with fungal endophytes (Epichloë coenophiala), which provides increased plant performance and greater tolerance to environmental stress compared endophyte-free tall fescue. Whether this enhanced of exclusively results from the grass–fungus symbiosis, or symbiosis additionally in recruitment soil microbes rhizosphere that turn promote growth, remain question. We investigated bacterial community composition iron-rich southeastern USA, possible shifts microbial populations based on endophyte infection by analyzing 16s rRNA gene ITS specific region. Our data revealed plant-available phosphorus (P) was significantly (p < 0.05) influenced While prominent phyla were similar, clear shift observed between endophyte-infected (E+) (E?) at phylum level. Moreover, E? soil, E+ showed diversity genus results, thus, indicate three-way interaction fescue, endophyte, communities resulting improved performance.