Publication Date

1997

Description

Infection with endophytic fungi (Acremonium spp.) was detected in seeds of wild populations of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) collected in France by private breeding companies and INRA. In total, 262 populations were examined and 70% contained Acremonium. It is worth noticing that most populations are endophyte infected but generally endophyte infection rates per population were low. Isolation of endophyte from each infected population is under progress and had already shown that the two taxonomic groups of endophytes of perennial ryegrass are present. This work lead to a view of the distribution of Acremonium endophytes from perennial ryegrass in France. The distribution of each taxonomic group is being established. Such a work could be useful for plant breeders. If they decide to discard endophyte infected populations to avoid mammals toxicoses, they can see which are the populations free of endophyte. On another hand, they can decide to use it in their breeding programmes in order to improve host plants tolerance to abiotic and biotic stress. In this case, they must take into account the alkaloid context.

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Acremonium-Endophytes of Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne) in France

Infection with endophytic fungi (Acremonium spp.) was detected in seeds of wild populations of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) collected in France by private breeding companies and INRA. In total, 262 populations were examined and 70% contained Acremonium. It is worth noticing that most populations are endophyte infected but generally endophyte infection rates per population were low. Isolation of endophyte from each infected population is under progress and had already shown that the two taxonomic groups of endophytes of perennial ryegrass are present. This work lead to a view of the distribution of Acremonium endophytes from perennial ryegrass in France. The distribution of each taxonomic group is being established. Such a work could be useful for plant breeders. If they decide to discard endophyte infected populations to avoid mammals toxicoses, they can see which are the populations free of endophyte. On another hand, they can decide to use it in their breeding programmes in order to improve host plants tolerance to abiotic and biotic stress. In this case, they must take into account the alkaloid context.