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Abstract: Aims: The objectives of this work were to characterize molecularly the morphologically described endophyte Balansia epichloe symbiotic on three grass species, and to determine the in situ production of ergot alkaloids on these three symbiota. Methods and Results: Balansia epichloe symbiotic with smut grass (Sporobolus poiretii), love grass (Eragrostis hirsuta) and lace grass (Eragrostis capillaries, a new host) were characterized using DNA barcoding. Laser ablation electro spray ionization (LAESI)–mass spectrometry was used to detect ergot alkaloids in situ for each symbiotum. Conclusions: The three morphologically described symbionts on the three host grasses were indicated as belonging to the species B. epichloe, DNA barcoding suggested they were related although a cryptic species was suggested. LAESI–mass spectrometry showed that ergot alkaloids were produced in vivo in two hosts but not the third although this same symbiotum was related to one of the ergot alkaloid producing symbiota as revealed by the DNA‐barcoding procedure. Significance and Impact of the Study: These results established the accumulation of ergot alkaloids in pot culture by a morpho species although there were variations with each species of grass. Barcoding described divergence among species, but considering its limitation, the suggested existence of cryptic species among this morphospecies requires substantiation by studies that are more rigorous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgrounds and Aims Leaf functional traits have been used as a basis to categoize plants across a range of resource-use specialization, from those that conserve available resources to those that exploit them. However, the extent to which the leaf functional traits used to define the resource-use strategies are related to root traits and are good indicators of the ability of the roots to take up nitrogen (N) are poorly known. This is an important question because interspecific differences in N uptake have been proposed as one mechanism by which species’ coexistence may be determined. This study therefore investigated the relationships between functional traits and N uptake ability for grass species across a range of conservative to exploitative resource-use strategies.Methods Root uptake of NH4+ and NO3–, and leaf and root functional traits were measured for eight grass species sampled at three grassland sites across Europe, in France, Austria and the UK. Species were grown in hydroponics to determine functional traits and kinetic uptake parameters (Imax and Km) under standardized conditions.Key Results Species with high specific leaf area (SLA) and shoot N content, and low leaf and root dry matter content (LDMC and RDMC, respectively), which are traits associated with the exploitative syndrome, had higher uptake and affinity for both N forms. No trade-off was observed in uptake between the two forms of N, and all species expressed a higher preference for NH4+.Conclusions The results support the use of leaf traits, and especially SLA and LDMC, as indicators of the N uptake ability across a broad range of grass species. The difficulties associated with assessing root properties are also highlighted, as root traits were only weakly correlated with leaf traits, and only RDMC and, to a lesser extent, root N content were related to leaf traits. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Microtus cabrerae Thomas, 1906, or Cabrera’s vole, is a medium-sized arvicoline, and one of the largest Microtus species. M. cabrerae is an Iberoccitane endemic, which is currently restricted to the Iberian Peninsula, where it presents a highly fragmented distribution. The species is the sole extant representative of the anagenetic Iberomys lineage with origin in the early Pleistocene. M. cabrerae is primarily restricted to wet habitats dominated by tall grasses, sedges, and rushes. The species has experienced strong population declines mainly during the past 10 years, particularly due to agricultural intensification. M. cabrerae is currently classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources as ‘‘Near Threatened,’’ and is listed in the Habitats Directive and Bern Convention, thus requiring appropriate conservation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Although plant functional traits (PFTs) appear to be important indicators of species' responses to land use changes, there is no clear understanding of how the variations in traits and their plasticity determine variations in species performance. This study investigated the role of functional shoot traits and their plasticity for variation in above-ground net primary productivity (ANPP) due to changes in N supply and in cutting frequency for 13 native perennial C3 grass species. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

According to current systematics, Festuca inops and F. gracilior are two distinct species. However, they are hardly distinguishable from each other on the basis of their morphological characters. Festuca inops is considered a diploid species endemic to Italy, while F. gracilior has a discontinuous distribution area, apparently related to chromosomal levels: diploid populations in Italy and south-east France, tetraploid populations in north-east Spain. The diploid populations of both taxa from Italy and south-east France are investigated in the present study. Nearly 1000 exsiccata were examined and morphometric analysis was carried out on macro- and micromorphological features of 119 specimens (including type-specimens) and on 20 natural populations (including loci classici). All these data showed that the two species should be referred to a single taxon, for which the rank of species seems to be appropriate. This result is supported by karyological, ecological and chorological data and was confirmed by the results of ISSR analysis. According to nomenclatural rules, the legitimate name for the species is Festuca inops De Not. © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2006, 151, 239–258. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to understand the salt‐tolerance mechanism of alkali grass (Puccinellia tenuiflora) compared with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), [K+] and [Na+] in roots and shoots in response to salt treatments were examined with ion element analysis and X‐ray microanalysis. Both the rapid K+ and Na+ influx in response to different NaCl and KCl treatments, and the accumulation of K+ and Na+ as the plants acclimated to long‐term stress were studied in culture‐ solution experiments. A higher K+ uptake under normal and saline conditions was evident in alkali grass compared with that in wheat, and electrophysiological analyses indicated that the different uptake probably resulted from the higher K+/Na+ selectivity of the plasma membrane. When external [K+] was high, K+ uptake and transport from roots to shoots were inhibited by exogenous Cs+, while TEA (tetraethylammonium) only inhibited K+ transport from the root to the shoot. K+ uptake was not influenced by Cs+ when plants were K+ starved. It was shown by X‐ray microanalysis that high [K+] and low [Na+] existed in the endodermal cells of alkali grass roots, suggesting this to be the tissue where Cs+ inhibition occurs. These results suggest that the K+/Na+ selectivity of potassium channels and the existence of an apoplastic barrier, the Casparian bands of the endodermis, lead to the lateral gradient of K+ and Na+ across root tissue, resulting not only in high levels of [K+] in the shoot but also a large [Na+] gradient between the root and the shoot. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]