Fungal endophytes in spotted knapweed influence its competitive interactions

TL;DR

Fungal endophytes in invasive Centaurea stoebe enhance its competitive ability by reducing native neighbor biomass and favoring invasion, with effects varying based on neighbor adaptation.

Contribution

This study reveals how root-associated fungal endophytes influence plant competition and invasion success, a previously overlooked aspect in invasion ecology.

Findings

Endophytes reduce biomass of naive neighbors

Endophytes increase growth of adapted neighbors

Endophytes give C. stoebe a competitive advantage

Abstract

Fungal symbionts are often overlooked in studies of plant invasion. Nevertheless, their role could be essential to the competitive success of the invader. We studied fungal endophytes in the widespread invasive Centaurea stoebe (common knapweed). A preliminary experiment showed that endophytes in roots of C. stoebe significantly reduced the biomass of evolutionarily na\"ive neighbours (Festuca idahoensis), compared to endophyte-free C. stoebe. In the main experiment non-clavicipitaceous endophytes belonging to six phylotypes, were employed as root inoculants. Each of these endophytes again reduced the growth of na\"ive neighbours (F. idahoensis); and remarkably, each also increased the growth of adapted neighbours (F. ovina) that were tested for the first time. Four of the six endophytes caused C. stoebe to gain a competitive advantage over its na\"ive neighbour that was significantly greater than the endophyte-free C. stoebe over that same neighbour. However, endophyte-free C. stoebe had no greater competitive advantage over F. idahoensis than it had over F. ovina. Therefore, plant-plant interactions were dramatically affected by the presence of endophytes in a way that would favor invasion.