Publication Date
1989
Description
Endophytic fungi which grow intercellularly in many species of grasses have been a scientific curiosity for almost a century. The mycelium of many of these fungi never emerges from the plant and the fungus is disseminated by way of hyphae in the seed. Other endophytes such as Epichloe typhina form a mycelial weft around the developing inflorescences thus preventing seed formation. Grasses infected with endophytes usually appear healthy and the presence of the fungus can only be detected by examining tissues from leaf, sheath, culms and seed for fungal mycelium. The economic importance of these fungi was first discovered by Bacon et al., (1977) when they showed that the presence of the endophyte Acremonium coenophialum in tall fescue ( Festuca arundinacea) was associated with fescue toxicosis in cattle. A similar association between the endophyte A. lolii in perennial rye grass ( Lolium perenne) and the disorder of animals known as ryegrass staggers was demonstrated by Fletcher and Harvey (1981). Although these fungi can be harmful to grazing animals their presence in grasses can have beneficial effects for the plant. Endophyte-infected grasses are resistant to predation from some insects, produce more herbage (Siegel et al., 1987), are less affected by drought stress (West et al., 1988) and they are more resistant to some fungal diseases (Koshino et al., 1987) and to nematodes (West et al., 1988) than are endophyte-free grasses. The toxin thought responsible for causing ryegrass staggers is lotitrem (Gallagher et al., 1984) and the compound which deters insects from feeding is peramine (Rowan et al., 1986). The factors which influence plant growth, tolerance to drought, and resistance to fungi and nematodes in grasses infected with Acremonium endophytes are not yet known. The major advantage of endophyte infection in ryegrass is the toxicity of the grass to animals. This paper describes the search for a strain of A. lolii that does not induce the production of lolitrem but still confers on the plant the many advantages of endophyte infection.
Citation
Latch, G C.M, "Plant Improvement using Endophytic Fungi" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 24.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session3b/24
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Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Plant Improvement using Endophytic Fungi
Endophytic fungi which grow intercellularly in many species of grasses have been a scientific curiosity for almost a century. The mycelium of many of these fungi never emerges from the plant and the fungus is disseminated by way of hyphae in the seed. Other endophytes such as Epichloe typhina form a mycelial weft around the developing inflorescences thus preventing seed formation. Grasses infected with endophytes usually appear healthy and the presence of the fungus can only be detected by examining tissues from leaf, sheath, culms and seed for fungal mycelium. The economic importance of these fungi was first discovered by Bacon et al., (1977) when they showed that the presence of the endophyte Acremonium coenophialum in tall fescue ( Festuca arundinacea) was associated with fescue toxicosis in cattle. A similar association between the endophyte A. lolii in perennial rye grass ( Lolium perenne) and the disorder of animals known as ryegrass staggers was demonstrated by Fletcher and Harvey (1981). Although these fungi can be harmful to grazing animals their presence in grasses can have beneficial effects for the plant. Endophyte-infected grasses are resistant to predation from some insects, produce more herbage (Siegel et al., 1987), are less affected by drought stress (West et al., 1988) and they are more resistant to some fungal diseases (Koshino et al., 1987) and to nematodes (West et al., 1988) than are endophyte-free grasses. The toxin thought responsible for causing ryegrass staggers is lotitrem (Gallagher et al., 1984) and the compound which deters insects from feeding is peramine (Rowan et al., 1986). The factors which influence plant growth, tolerance to drought, and resistance to fungi and nematodes in grasses infected with Acremonium endophytes are not yet known. The major advantage of endophyte infection in ryegrass is the toxicity of the grass to animals. This paper describes the search for a strain of A. lolii that does not induce the production of lolitrem but still confers on the plant the many advantages of endophyte infection.
