Sugar Alcohols in Endophyte‐Infected Tall Fescue Under Drought

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Abstract
Infection of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) by a fungal endophyte (Acremonium coenophialum Morgan‐Jones & Gains) improves drought tolerance, but the mechanism is unknown. Research was conducted to determine if endophyte‐infected tall fescue subjected to drought stress accumulated sugar alcohols. An infected and uninfected clone of a ‘Kentucky 31’ tall fescue genotype was greenhouse grown in perlite at field capacity or −1.0 MPa for 7 d. Sugar alcohols and other soluble carbohydrates were identified in the leaf blades and sheath. Mannitol and arabitol were identified in sheaths of infected grasses, and arabitol accumulated in infected grasses under drought stress. Infected plants had greater concentrations of fructose and glucose in blades and higher glucose in sheaths than uninfected plants when grown under drought stress. We believe, therefore, that the higher carbohydrate accumulation in infected grasses contributes to osmotic potential and regrowth capacity of endophyte‐infected grasses.

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