scholarly journals Epichloë (formerly Neotyphodium) fungal endophytes increase adaptation of cool-season perennial grasses to environmental stresses

2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dariusz Piotr Malinowski ◽  
David Paul Belesky
Keyword(s):  
Abiotic Stresses ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Plant Competition ◽  
Fungal Endophytes ◽  
Secondary Compounds ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Host Chemistry

Many cool-season grass species have evolved with asexual, nonsymptomatic fungal endophytes of the genus <em>Epichloë</em> (formerly <em>Neotyphodium</em>) of the family Clavicipitaceae. These associations range from parasitic to mutualistic and have dramatic effects on grass host chemistry, increasing resistance to abiotic (drought, soil mineral imbalance) and biotic (vertebrate and invertebrate herbivory, nematodes, plant pathogens, plant competition) stresses. Native endophyte strains produce a range of bioprotective alkaloid and other nonalkaloid secondary compounds, several of them known to have detrimental effects on grazing animals. In the past two decades, epichloid endophyte strains have been selected with marginal or no capacity of producing ergot and/or lolitrem alkaloids. These novel endophyte strains have been introduced to several grass cultivars with the idea to increase grass host resistance to abiotic stresses without hindering grazing livestock, and abiotic stresses to ensure high competitive ability of symbiotic grass cultivars. In this presentation, we discuss mechanisms underlying the competitiveness of epichloid endophyte/grass associations and consequences of endophyte infection for grassland ecosystem functions.

scholarly journals Epichloë Endophyte Infection Rates and Alkaloid Content in Commercially Available Grass Seed Mixtures in Europe

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 498
Author(s):  
Jochen Krauss ◽  
Veronika Vikuk ◽  
Carolyn A. Young ◽  
Markus Krischke ◽  
Martin J. Mueller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Endophytes ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Infection Status ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Infected Seed ◽  
Toxic Alkaloids ◽  
Cool Season Grass ◽  
Epichloë Endophyte ◽  
Seed Mixtures

Fungal endophytes of the genus Epichloë live symbiotically in cool season grass species and can produce alkaloids toxic to insects and vertebrates, yet reports of intoxication of grazing animals have been rare in Europe in contrast to overseas. However, due to the beneficial resistance traits observed in Epichloë infected grasses, the inclusion of Epichloë in seed mixtures might become increasingly advantageous. Despite the toxicity of fungal alkaloids, European seed mixtures are rarely tested for Epichloë infection and their infection status is unknown for consumers. In this study, we tested 24 commercially available seed mixtures for their infection rates with Epichloë endophytes and measured the concentrations of the alkaloids ergovaline, lolitrem B, paxilline, and peramine. We detected Epichloë infections in six seed mixtures, and four contained vertebrate and insect toxic alkaloids typical for Epichloë festucae var. lolii infecting Lolium perenne. As Epichloë infected seed mixtures can harm livestock, when infected grasses become dominant in the seeded grasslands, we recommend seed producers to test and communicate Epichloë infection status or avoiding Epichloë infected seed mixtures.

scholarly journals Antagonism to Plant Pathogens by Epichloë Fungal Endophytes—A Review

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1997
Author(s):  
Stuart D. Card ◽  
Daniel A. Bastías ◽  
John R. Caradus
Keyword(s):  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Fungal Endophytes ◽  
Antimicrobial Properties ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Symbiotic Associations ◽  
Pathogenic Microbes ◽  
Multiple Species ◽  
Epichloë Endophytes ◽  
Grazing Livestock

Epichloë is a genus of filamentous fungal endophytes that has co-evolved with cool-season grasses with which they form long-term, symbiotic associations. The most agriculturally important associations for pasture persistence for grazing livestock are those between asexual vertically transmitted Epichloë strains and the pasture species, perennial ryegrass, and tall fescue. The fungus confers additional traits to their host grasses including invertebrate pest deterrence and drought tolerance. Selected strains of these mutualistic endophytes have been developed into highly efficacious biocontrol products and are widely utilized within the Americas, Australia, and New Zealand for pasture persistence. Less publicized is the antagonism Epichloë endophytes display towards multiple species of saprophytic and pathogenic microbes. This opinion piece will review the current literature on antimicrobial properties exhibited by this genus of endophyte and discuss the reasons why this trait has historically remained a research curiosity rather than a trait of commercial significance.

scholarly journals Infection Rates and Alkaloid Patterns of Different Grass Species with SystemicEpichloëEndophytes

2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (17) ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronika Vikuk ◽  
Carolyn A. Young ◽  
Stephen T. Lee ◽  
Padmaja Nagabhyru ◽  
Markus Krischke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Liquid Chromatography ◽  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Fungal Endophytes ◽  
The United States ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Alkaloid Biosynthesis ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACTSymbioticEpichloëspecies are fungal endophytes of cool-season grasses that can produce alkaloids with toxicity to vertebrates and/or invertebrates. Monitoring infections and presence of alkaloids in grasses infected withEpichloëspecies can provide an estimate of possible intoxication risks for livestock. We sampled 3,046 individuals of 13 different grass species in three regions on 150 study sites in Germany. We determined infection rates and used PCR to identifyEpichloëspecies diversity based on the presence of different alkaloid biosynthesis genes, then confirmed the possible chemotypes with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) measurements. Infections ofEpichloëspp. were found inFestuca pratensisHuds. (81%),Festuca ovinaL. aggregate (agg.) (73%),Lolium perenneL. (15%),Festuca rubraL. (15%) andDactylis glomerataL. (8%). The other eight grass species did not appear to be infected. For the majority ofEpichloë-infectedL. perennesamples (98%), the alkaloids lolitrem B and peramine were present, but ergovaline was not detected, which was consistent with the genetic evaluation, asdmaW, the gene encoding the first step of the ergot alkaloid biosynthesis pathway, was absent.Epichloë uncinatainF. pratensisproduced anti-insect loline compounds. TheEpichloëspp. observed in theF. ovinaagg. samples showed the greatest level of diversity, and different intermediates of the indole-diterpene pathway could be detected.Epichloëinfection rates alone are insufficient to estimate intoxication risks for livestock, as other factors, like the ability of the endophyte to produce the alkaloids, also need to be assessed.IMPORTANCESevere problems of livestock intoxication fromEpichloë-infected forage grasses have been reported from New Zealand, Australia, and the United States, but much less frequently from Europe, and particularly not from Germany. Nevertheless, it is important to monitor infection rates and alkaloids of grasses withEpichloëfungi to estimate possible intoxication risks. Most studies focus on agricultural grass species likeLolium perenneandFestuca arundinacea, but other cool-season grass species can also be infected. We show that in Germany, infection rates and alkaloids differ between grass species and that some of the alkaloids can be toxic to livestock. Changes in grassland management due to changing climate, especially with a shift toward grasslands dominated withEpichloë-infected species such asLolium perenne, may result in greater numbers of intoxicated livestock in the near future. We therefore suggest regular monitoring of grass species for infections and alkaloids and call for maintaining heterogenous grasslands for livestock.

Stability and Yield of Cool-Season Pasture Grass Species Grown at Five Irrigation Levels

Crop Science ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 890 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blair L. Waldron ◽  
Kay H. Asay ◽  
Kevin B. Jensen
Keyword(s):  
Grass Species ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Pasture Grass ◽  
Irrigation Levels

Use of tall fescue EST-SSR markers in phylogenetic analysis of cool-season forage grasses

Genome ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 637-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
M A. Rouf Mian ◽  
Malay C Saha ◽  
Andrew A Hopkins ◽  
Zeng-Yu Wang
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Ssr Markers ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Related Species ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Forage Grass ◽  
Forage Grasses ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Phylogenetic Relations ◽  
Wide Range

Microsatellites or simple sequence repeats (SSRs) are highly useful molecular markers for plant improvement. Expressed sequence tag (EST)-SSR markers have a higher rate of transferability across species than genomic SSR markers and are thus well suited for application in cross-species phylogenetic studies. Our objectives were to examine the amplification of tall fescue EST-SSR markers in 12 grass species representing 8 genera of 4 tribes from 2 subfamilies of Poaceae and the applicability of these markers for phylogenetic analysis of grass species. About 43% of the 145 EST-SSR primer pairs produced PCR bands in all 12 grass species and had high levels of polymorphism in all forage grasses studied. Thus, these markers will be useful in a variety of forage grass species, including the ones tested in this study. SSR marker data were useful in grouping genotypes within each species. Lolium temulentum, a potential model species for cool-season forage grasses, showed a close relation with the major Festuca–Lolium species in the study. Tall wheatgrass was found to be closely related to hexaploid wheat, thereby confirming the known taxonomic relations between these species. While clustering of closely related species was found, the effectiveness of such data in evaluating distantly related species needs further investigations. The phylogenetic trees based on DNA sequences of selected SSR bands were in agreement with the phylogenetic relations based on length polymorphism of SSRs markers. Tall fescue EST-SSR markers depicted phylogenetic relations among a wide range of cool-season forage grass species and thus are an important resource for researchers working with such grass species.Key words: phylogeny, EST-SSR, forage grasses, tall fescue.

Competition among seedlings of perennial grasses, subterranean clover, white clover, and annual ryegrass in replacement series mixtures

2000 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 377 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. Lodge
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Plant Competition ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Maximum Likelihood Estimates ◽  
Annual Ryegrass ◽  
Replacement Series ◽  
Successful Establishment

Seedlings of 3 perennial grasses, Danthonia linkii Kunthcv. Bunderra, D. richardsonii Cashmore cv. Taranna(wallaby grasses), and Phalaris aquatica L. cv. Sirosa,were each grown in replacement series mixtures with seedlings ofTrifolium repens L. (white clover),Trifolium subterraneum L. var. brachycalycinum (Katzn.et Morley) Zorahy & Heller cv. Clare (subterraneanclover), and Lolium rigidum L. (annual ryegrass). Plantswere sown 5 cm apart in boxes (45 by 29 by 20 cm) at a density of 307plants/m2. Maximum likelihood estimates were usedto derive parameters of a non-linear competition model using the dry matterweights of perennial grasses and competitors at 3 harvests, approximately 168,216, and 271 days after sowing. Intra-plant competition was examined inmonocultures of each species, grown at plant spacings of 2, 5, and 8 cm apartwith plants harvested at the above times.Competition occurred in all perennial grass–competitor mixtures, exceptin those of each perennial grass with white clover and thephalaris–subterranean clover mixture (Harvest 1) and those withD. richardsonii and phalaris grown with white clover(Harvest 2). For D. richardsonii (Harvests 1 and 2) andD. linkii (Harvest 1 only) grown with white clover andthe phalaris–subterranean clover (Harvest 1), the two species in themixture were not competing. In the phalaris–white clover mixture, eachspecies was equally competitive (Harvests 1 and 2). These differences incompetition and aggressiveness reflected differences in individual plantweights in monocultures where there was an effect (P < 0.05) of species ondry matter weight per box, but no significant effect of plant spacing.These data indicated that for successful establishment,D. richardsonii and D. linkiishould not be sown in swards with either subterranean clover or white clover,or where populations of annual ryegrass seedlings are likely to be high.Phalaris was more compatible with both white clover and subterranean clover,but aggressively competed with by annual ryegrass.

Canopy Growth and Density of Wyoming Big Sagebrush Sown with Cool-Season Perennial Grasses

2006 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 183-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann L. Hild ◽  
Gerald E. Schuman ◽  
Laurel E. Vicklund ◽  
Mary I. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Big Sagebrush ◽  
Wyoming Big Sagebrush

Biomass yield, fiber composition and persistence of cool-season perennial grasses

Biomass ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 175-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.H. Cherney ◽  
K.D. Johnson ◽  
V.L. Lechtenberg ◽  
J.M. Hertel
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Yield ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Fiber Composition

scholarly journals The Role Of Perennial Grasses In The Protection Of Soil Resources Of Erosive Ecosystems With Active Development Of Linear Erosion

2021 ◽  
Vol 901 (1) ◽  
pp. 012007
Author(s):  
V M Kosolapov ◽  
V I Cherniavskih ◽  
E V Dumacheva ◽  
M N Marinich ◽  
L D Sajfutdinova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Trifolium Pratense ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Steppe Zone ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Forest Steppe ◽  
Perennial Legume ◽  
The Stability

Abstract We evaluated the stability of perennial legume and cereal grass species in artificial plant communities on permanent anti-erosion watercourses in the agroecosystems of the Belgorod region with active development of linear soil erosion. In the conditions of steppe and forest-steppe zones of the Belgorod region on permanently grassed watercourses in 2017-2019. varieties of perennial leguminous and cereal grasses: ‘Krasnoyaruzhskaya 1’ and ‘Krasnoyaruzhskaya 2’ (Medicago varia), ‘Kazatsky’ (Trifolium pratense), ‘Olshanka’ and ‘Ivica’ (Festuca arundinacea), ‘Streletsky’ and ‘Stepnyak’ (Lolium perenne)) obtained using local genetic material were studied. All varieties showed their resistance in agro-ecosystems with active development of linear erosion in the forest-steppe and steppe zones. Projective cover on watercourses in the steppe zone in all variants of experience was on average 83,4 %, in the forest-steppe zone - 86,3 %. In the third year of the tests on permanently irrigated watercourses in the steppe zone, the share of cereal and legume grass species was quite high and varied from 88 % in the variant M. varia + Onobrychis arenaria to 92 % in the variants M. varia + Bromopsis inermis and O. arenaria. In the forest-steppe zone, the share of cereal and legume grass species varied from 86 % in the variant L. perenne to 94 % in the variant L. perenne + B. inermis.

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