Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: Purpose\nThe fungus Piriformospora indica was first isolated from plants growing in\narid, hot desert conditions and has been shown to have significant potential\nas a biocontrol and biofertilising organism in barley under optimal growth\nconditions. However, it was not thought to be effective in plants grown in low\ntemperatures and has consequently not been well tested in cold-stressed crops.\nThis study sought to determine the effects of inoculating barley plants with this\nfungus in cool growth conditions with variable nutrient input.\nMethods\nThree barley varieties were inoculated with P. indica and two other fungal\nroot endophytes, Chaetomium globosum and Epicoccum nigrum, in a controlled\nenvironment under low temperature stress with variable nutrient input, and\nmeasured growth, development and yield.\nResults\nWith the higher nutrient input, the P.indica-inoculated plants flowered earlier\nand had 22% greater grain yield than the control. The other two endophytes, C.\nglobosum and E. nigrum, conferred no significant benefits under either nutrient\nregime.\nConclusions\nPiriformospora indica is easy to culture and propagate, and may have significant\nbiofertilisation potential as a crop treatment for barley grown in cool climates\nenable the profitable cultivation of barley in previously marginal sites and\nreduce the carbon footprint of barley through increased nitrogen use efficiency.
Authors: Brian R. Murphy, Fiona M. Doohan, Trevor R. Hodkinson
Language: English
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Climate action
Open Access status: green
Funder: Trinity College Dublin
OpenAlex ID: W1430535918