EFFECT OF THE SYMBIOSIS BETWEEN LOLIUM MULTIFLORUM AND THE ENDOPHYTE EPICHLOË OCCULTANS ON NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF PASTURE IN BIOSOLIDS´ AMENDED SOIL

Biosolids have a high content of stable organic matter, which may be used for the remediation of marginal non-agricultural soils used for pasture production. In Argentina, the aerial biomass of Lolium multiflorum Lam., species is highly infected with the endophyte Epichloë occultans. Endophytes establish a symbiotic relationship with host plants, providing protection and resistance against different stress factors. Since land application of biosolids may rise plant stress, the objective of this work was to analyze the growth and concentration of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in aerial biomass of L. multiflorum in symbiosis (or not) with the endophyte E. occultans on a sandy textured soil amended with biosolids. The association of L multiflorum with the endophyte produced an increase in aerial biomass only in the biosolids´ amended soil. However, the presence of the endophyte did not modify the concentration of Cu or Zn in the aerial biomass of the pasture under the experimental conditions.