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Published on January 24, 2008; 10.1104/pp.107.111898

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Received October 28, 2007
Accepted January 17, 2008

Metabolic profiles of Lolium perenne are differentially affected by nitrogen supply, carbohydrate content and fungal endophyte infection

Susanne Rasmussen *, Anthony J Parsons , Karl Fraser , Hong Xue , and Jonathan A Newman

AgResearch, P.B. 11008, Palmerston North, New Zealand; Department of Environmental Biology, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1

* Corresponding author; email: Susanne.rasmussen{at}agresearch.co.nz.

Lolium perenne cultivars differing in their capacity to accumulate water soluble carbohydrates (WSCs) were infected with three strains of fungal Neotyphodium lolii endophytes or left uninfected. The endophyte strains differed in their alkaloid profiles. Plants were grown at two different levels of nitrogen (N) supply in a controlled environment. Metabolic profiles of blades were analysed using a variety of analytical methods. A total of 66 response variables were subjected to a principle components analysis and factor rotation. The first three rotated factors (46 % of the total variance) were subsequently analysed by ANOVA.

At high N supply nitrogenous compounds, organic acids and lipids were increased; WSCs, chlorogenic acid (CGA) and fibres were decreased. The high sugar cultivar AberDove had reduced levels of nitrate, most minor amino acids (AAs), sulphur and fibres compared to the control cultivar Fennema, whereas WSCs, CGA, and methionine were increased. In plants infected with endophytes, nitrate, several AAs, and Mg were decreased; WSCs, lipids, some organic acids and CGA were increased. Re-growth of blades was stimulated at high N; and there was a significant endophyte x cultivar interaction on re-growth. Mannitol, a fungal specific sugar alcohol, was significantly correlated with fungal biomass.

Our findings suggest that effects of endophytes on metabolic profiles of L. perenne can be considerable, depending on host plant characteristics and nutrient supply, and we propose that a shift in C/N ratios and in secondary metabolite production as seen in our study is likely to have impacts on herbivore responses.






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