Comparative Research on Metabolites of Different Species of Epichloe Endophytes and Their Host Achnatherum sibiricum

Achnatherum sibiricum can be infected by two species of fungal endophytes, Epichloe gansuensis (Eg) and Epichloe sibirica (Es). In this study, the metabolites of Eg, Es, and their infected plants were studied by GC-MS analysis. The results showed that the metabolic profiles of Eg and Es were similar in general, and only six differential metabolites were detected. The direct effect of endophyte infection on the metabolites in A. sibiricum was that endophyte-infected plants could produce mannitol, which was not present in uninfected plants. Epichloe infection indirectly caused an increase in the soluble sugars in A. sibiricum related to growth and metabolites related to the defense against pathogens and herbivores, such as alpha-tocopherol, alpha-linolenic acid and aromatic amino acids. Epichloe infection could regulate galactose metabolism, starch and sucrose metabolism, tyrosine metabolism and phenylalanine metabolism of host grass. In addition, there was a significant positive correlation in the metabolite contents between the endophyte and the host.

Automated summary

The study analyzed the metabolites of Achnatherum sibiricum infected with two species of fungal endophytes, Epichloe gansuensis (Eg) and Epichloe sibirica (Es), using GC-MS analysis. The results showed that the metabolic profiles of Eg and Es were generally similar, with only six differential metabolites detected. The infection of Epichloe indirectly led to an increase in soluble sugars and metabolites related to defense mechanisms in A. sibiricum. Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation in the metabolite contents between the endophyte and the host.