Does Endophyte Influence Regrowth of Tall Fescue?
The influence of ecological and environmental factors on the response of the mutualistic symbionts Acremonium coenophialum (Morgan-Jones and Gams), and tall fescue ( Festuca arundinacea, Schreb.) has received substantial attention. However, much of what is known about developmental and physiological responses has been obtained from static or mature canopies and the influence of defoliation on the symbiota has not been considered in detail. A controlled environment experiment was conducted to assess the influence of defoliation and endophyte on the regrowth and development of two tall fescue genotypes and their respective endophytes, known to differ in morphology and alkaloid production capacity. The response of endophyte infected relative to non-infected plants was evaluated for measured and calculated parameters for each defoliation. While the influence of genotype was substantial on virtually all parameters, endophyte interacted with genotype and defoliation resulting in enhanced pla
