INFLUENCE OF THE RYEGRASS ENDOPHYTE (NEOTYPHODIUM-LOLII) IN A COOL-MOIST ENVIRONMENT III - INTERACTION WITH WHITE CLOVER

White clover was grown together with either endophyte-free or endophyt e-infected (strain either AR6 or wildtype) Nui ryegrass under four env ironmental conditions (covering low or moderate temperatures, moist or droughted soil, clippings removed or returned) in a glasshouse experi ment. The presence of wildtype endophyte in ryegrass plants had in gen eral, but especially under optimal growing conditions, a significant p ositive effect (P < 0.05) on white clover stolen length, number of gro wing points, and the number of nodules. No endophyte effect was observ ed on the distribution of nodules over root depth, size, and colour cl asses under any environment. It is postulated that endophyte-associate d compounds in root leachates may have an effect on mycorrhiza, the si ze of the effect increasing with the level of abiotic stress to which ryegrass plants are subjected.