The effects of cadmium (Cd) on germination,and antioxidative enzyme activity (AEA) involving superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase, and on amounts of malondialdehyde and proline present within Achnatherum inebrians, were determined for specimens infected (E?) vs. non-infected (E-) by Neotyphodium gansuense, and cultivated in the presence of various concentrations of CdCl2 (0, 50, 100, 200 and 300 lmol/l). Under high Cd concentrations (100, 200 and 300 lM), E? (vs. E-) specimens exhibited a higher germination rate and index, and higher values for shoot length, root length and dry biomass, but there was no significant difference (P[0.05) under low Cd concentrations (0 and 50 lM). AEA and the proline content increased, but malondialdehyde content declined in the E? (vs. E-) specimens under high Cd concentrations (100, 200 and 300 lM). There was no significant difference (P[0.05) under low Cd concentrations (0 and 50 lM). Endophyte infection was concluded to be of benefit to the germination and anti-oxidative mechanisms within A. inebrians under plant exposures to high CdCl2 concentrations.

Biological and physiological characteristics of Neotyphodium gansuense were compared with Neotyphodium coenophialum and Epichloe festucae at a range of temperatures and pH values, and on carbon and nitrogen amended media. N. gansuense was able to grow at 10-30 1C, but not at 51C, and slowly at 351C. The optimal temperature for both N. gansuense and N. coenophialum was 251C, but that of E. festucae was 20-25 1C. The optimal pH ranges for mycelial growth of N. gansuense, N. coenophialum and E. festucae were 5-9, 5-9 and 5-7, respectively. The Neotyphodium and Epichloe

Interactions of Neotyphodium gansuense, Achnatherum inebrians, and nine fungal pathogens were studied by tests of inhibition of four fungal pathogens by Neotyphodium endophytes in vitro and by inoculation of nine fungal pathogens on detached leaves of endophyteinfected (Et) and endophyte-free (E_) plants. Compared with the controls, most isolates of N. gansuense significantly inhibited the growth in vitro of, in decreasing order of inhibition, Bipolaris sorokiniana, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium acuminatum, and Alternaria alternata. Inhibition zones appeared between pathogens and some isolates of N. gansuense. Some isolates of N. gansuense significantly inhibited sporulation of B. sorokiniana, A. alternata, and C. lunata. However, there was no significant inhibition of F. acuminatum and a few isolates significantly increased sporulation. The leaf inoculation trial indicated that almost all fungal pathogens were able to cause lesions on detached leaves regardless of endophyte status. Both the number and size of disease lesions on Et A. inebrians leaves caused by A. alternate.

A new endophytic fungus has been isolated from Achnatherum inebrians collected from Gansu Province, China. The morphological and cultural characters are used to describe the new species, Neotyphodium gansuense.