Department of Primary Industries | CSU Homepage
Research Higher Degree Students Quick finder:
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
- Click here for Members/Staff
Joe Moore
PhD Student, Student Representative for the EH Graham Centre
School School of Agricultural & Wine Sciences
Location CSU
Phone 02 6933 4211
Email jmoore@csu.edu.au
Project
Investigating the endophyte Neotyphodium occultans
Summary
Fungal endophytes are known to provide ecological fitness benefits to many cool season grasses. Endophyte research has mainly focused on the detrimental and beneficial effects of fungal endophytes in grazing systems. Most findings agree that endophyte infection is related to increased fitness and persistence in a pasture context. However, these same plant-endophyte associations are poorly understood in terms of the fitness contribution or penalty conferred to an infected weed in cropping environments. Annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaud.) is the worst weed of southern Australian farming systems, infesting the majority of cropping paddocks. Annual ryegrass is frequently found in association with the endophytic fungus Neotyphodium occultans. It is unknown if there are any benefits provided for annual ryegrass by N. occultans in a strictly cropping environment. Therefore, my PhD project aims to evaluate if N. occultans is contributing to the interference ability of annual ryegrass populations thus increasing its ‘weediness’. My project will also examine endophyte population dynamics to ascertain if the incidence of N. occultans in L. rigidum is decreasing in cropping paddocks as compared to naturalised areas.
Supervisors
Prof. Jim Pratley, Prof Leslie Weston, Dr Alexa Seal and Dr Wade Mace
Funding source
Australian Postgraduate Award (APA)
GRDC Top Up
Selected Publications
Moore JR, Pratley JE & Seal AN (2010). The effect of annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) interference on the growth of four common Australian crop species. Paper presented at the 17th Australasian Weeds Conference, Christchurch, New Zealand.