Fungal endophyte enhances biomass production and essential oil yield of east Indian lemongrass

East Indian lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus (Stued.) Wats.) is one of the most important aromatic grasses cultivated for the production of lemongrass oil in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. A fungal endophyte, Balansia sclerotica (Pat.) Hohn. establishes a perennial association with t he commercially grown east Indian lemongrass cv. Kerala local (syn.=OD-19). Endophyte-infected plants produced 195% more shoot biomass and 185% more e ssential oil than the endophyte-free control plants when grown experimental ly under glasshouse conditions. The essential oil extracted from the endoph yte-infected plants is qualitatively identical with that of endophyte-free plants. Thin layer chromatography analyses also confirmed that the essentia l oil from endophyte-infected lemongrass is free of toxic ergot alkaloids. Endophyte infection induced vivipary in east Indian lemongrass. Endophyte-i nfected plants can be propagated vegetatively. The results of the present i nvestigation indicate that B. sclerotica-infected east Indian lemongrass ha s potential for agricultural exploitation.