Impact of novel endophytes in perennial ryegrass on herbage production and insect pests from pastures under dairy cow grazing in northern New Zealand

2013 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 191-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. R. Thom ◽  
A. J. Popay ◽  
C. D. Waugh ◽  
E. M. K. Minneé
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Insect Pests

A survey of ryegrass endophyte (Acremonium loliae) in the U.K. and its apparent ineffectually on a seedling pest

1986 ◽  
Vol 107 (3) ◽  
pp. 633-638 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. C. Lewis ◽  
R. O. Clements
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Pasture Grass ◽  
Domestic Livestock ◽  
Major Pest ◽  
Small Plot ◽  
Overwinter Mortality

SUMMARYAcremonium loliaeis an endophytic fungus which infects plants of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), an important pasture grass in New Zealand and much of Western Europe. In New Zealand the endophyte–ryegrass association was found recently to give rise to tremorgenic substances (lolitrem A and B), which are the cause of a serious disorder of grazing and domestic livestock there. The endophyte also confers resistance in ryegrass plants to certain insect pests in New Zealand and enhances plant growth even in the absence of pests. In the present work 61 swards at 52 widespread sites in the U.K. were checked for the presence of endophyte mycelium, and it was found in 14 swards, of which 12 were at least 15 years old. ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) tests confirmed that the fungus wasA. loliae.Also, lolitrem B was detected in plants from most of the sites where the mycelium was found; this appears to be the first time this tremorgen has been reported in the U.K. or perhaps in Europe. In a small-plot experiment at two sites with newly sown perennial ryegrass the endophyte appeared to have no effect on infestation by frit fly larvae, a major pest of seedling ryegrass plants. Also, in the present work, the endophyte had no measurable effect on the growth or overwinter mortality of larvae.

Evaluating the performance of endophytes in farm systems to improve farmer outcomes - a review

2012 ◽  
Vol 63 (10) ◽  
pp. 927 ◽  
Author(s):  
Errol R. Thom ◽  
Alison J. Popay ◽  
David E. Hume ◽  
Lester R. Fletcher
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Small Animal ◽  
Fungal Endophyte ◽  
Feeding Experiments ◽  
Grass Endophyte ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Minimum Requirements

The main plant species relied on for forage supply to grazing animals in New Zealand and south-eastern Australia is perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Perennial ryegrass has evolved with a fungal endophyte (Neotyphodium lolii, Latch, Christensen & Samuals) that occupies intercellular spaces, and is nourished by its host. The endophyte (referred to as standard or wild-type) provides the plant with protection from a range of insect pests by producing alkaloids, some of which are also toxic to grazing animals, causing ryegrass staggers and/or exacerbating heat stress. Over the last 20 years naturally occurring perennial ryegrass endophytes have been found in Europe that produce less of the alkaloids that cause animal health problems but have similar or enhanced effects as the standard endophyte on deterring insect attack on infected plants, when introduced into New Zealand and Australian-bred ryegrasses. This review provides a summary of endophyte research in New Zealand from the perspective of insect pests, plants (particularly perennial ryegrass) and the animals grazed on ryegrass-dominant pastures. The protocols used to evaluate perennial ryegrass/endophyte associations over the past 30 years are also discussed. Future testing of new grass/endophyte associations should include the utilisation of more environments for agronomic and entomological experiments; routinely carrying out small animal toxicology assays, and the running of short-term indoor feeding experiments with sheep and cows. Implementation of these changes provides the minimum requirements for strengthening the evaluation of new endophyte associations so farmers using these technologies, gain optimal benefits from their adoption.

Modelling perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) persistence and productivity for the Upper North Island under current and future climate

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Beukes ◽  
Andrea Babylon ◽  
Wendy Griffiths ◽  
Simon Woodward ◽  
Electra Kalaugher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Coastal Regions ◽  
Far North ◽  
Future Performance ◽  
Soil Water Holding Capacity ◽  
The Town ◽  
Water Holding

The objective of this study was to predict the future performance of perennial ryegrass in the Upper North Island, New Zealand. The Basic Grassland model, BASGRA, was used with historic, current and future daily climate data as input, and soil water holding capacity, to predict changes in perennial ryegrass performance in space and time. The study focussed on land of ≤7° slope north of the town of Tokoroa and considered two potential warming pathways to the end of the 21st century. Persistence was defined as the time in years for the ryegrass sward to decline to 50% ground cover. The results for the two climate pathways were largely consistent with each other. Persistence should remain in the medium category (2.5-3.4 years, 10-12 t DM/ha) for the rest of this century for Bay of Islands, Whangarei, South Waikato/Tokoroa, and Rotorua. Persistence is predicted to change from medium to predominantly low (0-2.4 years, <10 t DM/ha) for Far North, Dargaville, DairyFlat/Rodney, Waiuku/Pukekohe and northern and central parts of Waikato. Coastal regions of Bay of Plenty were predicted to be poorly suited to perennial ryegrass and to remain so into the rest of the century. Large parts of the Upper North Island that are currently borderline for perennial ryegrass are predicted to become unsuitable for the species.

scholarly journals Strategies to manage the evolution of glyphosate resistance in New Zealand

2016 ◽  
Vol 69 ◽  
pp. 252-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.C. Harrington ◽  
T.K. James ◽  
M.D. Parker ◽  
H. Ghanizadeh
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Weed Control ◽  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Lolium Multiflorum ◽  
Resistance Management ◽  
Glyphosate Resistance ◽  
Italian Ryegrass ◽  
Fruit Crops ◽  
Sustainable Farming

The first cases of weeds developing resistance to glyphosate within New Zealand have recently been reported and investigated Both perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) populations have become resistant to glyphosate in several Marlborough vineyards due to many years of weed control using mainly just glyphosate Glyphosate is currently being used in many situations throughout New Zealand that could easily lead to further resistance developing such as in other perennial fruit crops on roadsides railways amenity areas waste areas fence lines and headlands of crops Following wide consultation as part of a Sustainable Farming Fund project strategies for resistance management in three systems (vineyard and orchards amenity and waste areas and crops and pastures) are suggested Adoption of these strategies will allow glyphosate to continue as a useful herbicide in New Zealand

scholarly journals Can pasture persistence be improved through the use of nonryegrass species?

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 157-162
Author(s):  
G.D. Milne
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Water Temperature ◽  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Nutrient Deficiencies ◽  
Recent Discussion

Recent discussion about pasture persistence concentrates on pastures based on perennial ryegrass, the most commonly used grass species. This paper raises the question as to whether some of the causes of poor pasture persistence are due to perennial ryegrass being used in environments to which it is not suited. The adaptation to environmental stresses, particularly water, temperature and nutrient deficiencies, in different regions of New Zealand of tall fescue, cocksfoot, phalaris, and lucerne are discussed, and how this impacts on persistence advantages over perennial ryegrass. Keywords: persistence, pasture, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca arundinacea, Lolium perenne, Medicago sativa, Phalaris aquatica

scholarly journals New Zealand Insect Pests

1978 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-221
Author(s):  
R. N. Williams
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Insect Pests

Valuing forages for genetic selection: what traits should we focus on?

2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (7) ◽  
pp. 869 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. F. Chapman ◽  
G. R. Edwards ◽  
A. V. Stewart ◽  
M. McEvoy ◽  
M. O'Donovan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Genetic Selection ◽  
Livestock Production ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Yield Data ◽  
Feeding Value

Failure over the past two to three decades to implement industry-led, systematic forage evaluation systems that translate forage performance data to animal production and economics means that the livestock industries are poorly positioned to judge how much economic benefit they are gaining from forage plant improvement and to propose future priorities and targets. The present paper identifies several knowledge gaps that must be filled to enable the value being delivered to pasture-based livestock industries by forage improvement to be determined, demonstrated to farmers and increased in the future. Seasonal yield, total annual yield, nutritive value and feeding value of pasture are all important traits for driving the productivity of pasture-based livestock production systems. From a farm systems perspective, persistence of the yield or quality advantage of new cultivars is also economically important. However, this is the least well defined of the productivity traits considered in the paper. Contrary to anecdotal reports, evidence indicates that the genetic potential of modern ryegrass cultivars to survive in grazed pastures is at least equivalent to that of older cultivars. Plant breeding in Europe and New Zealand has changed the seasonal yield, quality and intake potential of perennial ryegrass. On the basis of dry matter (DM) yield data from small-plot evaluation trials, the New Zealand forage value index indicates that the top-ranked perennial ryegrass cultivars offer between NZ$280 and NZ $650/ha per year potential additional operating profit to dairy businesses (depending on region), compared with a historical genetic base of cultivars that were first entered into yield testing programs between 1991 and 1996. The equivalent figure in Ireland (including nutritive value effects) is about €325/ha per year. These estimates are yet to be confirmed in animal production studies. In intensive dairy systems, current rates of genetic gain in DM yield lag well behind realised rates of gain in animal genetics and associated increases in feed demand per animal. Genetic gains in yield need to double from current rates (estimated at 0.5% per year); but, it is not known whether this is possible in an outcrossing species such as perennial ryegrass, which is normally grown in a mixture with other species, especially white clover. Improvements in DM yield in seasons where extra DM has greatest economic value in grazing systems should dominate breeding objectives, but this must now be augmented by consideration of the environmental impacts of intensive pasture-based livestock production systems and opportunities to mitigate this through germplasm selection. There is less evidence that nutritive or feeding value of ryegrass cultivars significantly limits animal production and profitability and useful improvements have already been made using tetraploids and later heading material.

Endophytic Fungi in Indigenous Australasian Grasses Associated with Toxicity to Livestock

1998 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 601-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher O. Miles ◽  
Margaret E. di Menna ◽  
Surrey W. L. Jacobs ◽  
Ian Garthwaite ◽  
Geoffrey A. Lane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Ergot Alkaloids ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Herbarium Specimens ◽  
Causative Agents ◽  
Listronotus Bonariensis ◽  
First Time ◽  
Slow Growing

ABSTRACT Grazing of Echinopogon spp. by livestock in Australia has caused symptoms similar to those of perennial ryegrass staggers. We observed an endophytic fungus in the intercellular spaces of the leaves and seeds of New Zealand and Australian specimens of Echinopogon ovatus. Culture of surface-sterilized seeds from New Zealand specimens yielded a slow-growing fungus. An examination in which immunoblotting and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used indicated that E. ovatus plants from Australia and New Zealand were infected with fungi serologically related toNeotyphodium lolii (the endophyte of perennial ryegrass) and other Epichloe and Neotyphodium spp. endophytic in pooid grasses. No lolitrems (the indole–diterpenoids implicated as the causative agents of perennial ryegrass staggers), peramine analogs, or ergot alkaloids were detected in the infected specimens by high-performance liquid chromatography or ELISA. However, in endophyte-infected E. ovatus plants from New Zealand, analogs of the indole–diterpenoid paxilline (thought to be a biosynthetic precursor of the lolitrems and related tremorgens) were detected by ELISA, and N-formylloline was detected by gas chromatography. Endophyte-free specimens of New Zealand E. ovatus did not contain detectable paxilline analogs or lolines and were more palatable than infected specimens to adults of the pasture pest Listronotus bonariensis (Argentine stem weevil). Hyphae similar to those of the E. ovatus endophyte were also found in herbarium specimens of Echinopogon nutans var. major, Echinopogon intermedius, Echinopogon caespitosus, andEchinopogon cheeli. This appears to be the first time that an endophytic Neotyphodium species has been identified in grasses endemic to New Zealand or Australia.

Perennial ryegrass breeding in New Zealand: A dairy industry perspective

2012 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia M. Lee ◽  
Cory Matthew ◽  
Errol R. Thom ◽  
David F. Chapman
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Genetic Improvement ◽  
Plant Traits ◽  
Dairy Industry ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Improvement Programs ◽  
Pasture Plants

Genetic improvement programs for livestock and pasture plants have been central to the development of the New Zealand (NZ) pastoral industry. Although genetic improvement of livestock is easily shown to improve animal production on-farm, the link between genetic improvement of pasture plants and animal production is less direct. For several reasons, gains in farm output arising from improved plant performance are more difficult to confirm than those arising from livestock improvement, which has led to some debate in the livestock industries about which plant traits to prioritise in future breeding programs to deliver the greatest benefit. This review investigates this situation, with the aim of understanding how genetic improvement of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), the predominant pasture grass, may more directly contribute towards increased productivity in the NZ dairy industry. The review focuses on the dairy industry, since it is the largest contributor to the total value of NZ agricultural exports. Also, because rates of pasture renewal are greater in the dairy industry compared with the sheep and beef industries, genetic gain in pasture plants is likely to have the greatest impact if the correct plant traits are targeted. The review highlights that many aspects of ryegrass growth and ecology have been manipulated through breeding, with evidence to show that plant performance has been altered as a result. However, it is not clear to what extent these gains have contributed to the economic development of the NZ dairy industry. There are opportunities for breeders and scientists to work together more closely in defining economic traits that positively influence pasture performance and to translate this information to objectives for breeding programs, systematically linking information on the measured traits of ryegrass cultivars to economic values for those traits to assist farmer decision-making regarding the most appropriate cultivars to use in their farm system, and better defining genotype × environment interactions in key productivity traits of modern ryegrass cultivars. Changes in priorities for investment of public- and industry-good funds in forage improvement research and development will be needed if these opportunities are to be captured.

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