THE IMPACT OF TALL FESCUE (FESTUCA ARUNDINACEA) ENDOPHYTE (NEOTYPHODIUM SPP.) ON NON-TARGET SOIL NEMATODES

Non-target effects of Neotyphodium endophyte infection in fi eld-sown tall fescue were studied as a model for investigating non-target effects of genetically-modifi ed plants. Two strains of Neotyphodium endophyte (AR501 and AR542) in tall fescue at a site near Palmerston North (Aorangi) and one strain (AR501) at a site near Lincoln were sampled in March and April 2002 respectively. The only consistent effect of either endophyte strain on nematode abundance was an increase of large omnivorous nematodes beneath AR501 tall fescue at both sites. This was refl ected in omnivorous nematodes constituting a signifi cantly greater proportion of the nematode fauna over the two sites. The nematode results show that relatively minor effects on this component of soil biota were observed as a result of plant changes associated with endophyte-infection, even after long-term growth in fi eld plots.