Offered Papers Theme A: Efficient Production from Grassland
Description
Kentucky has > 2Mha of tall fescue (Festuca arundianacea Schreb.) grown mainly for livestock consumption. Many alkaloids in tall fescue are produced in a mutualistic association between tall fescue and an endophytic fungus (Neotyphodium coenophialum) (Long et al., 2002). Ingestion of tall fescue by livestock may depress reproduction and growth (Schultz & Bush, 2002). Not all Kentucky fields of tall fescue are thought to be infected with endophyte, but forage samples from all surveyed pastures had measurable ergopeptine alkaloids. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that some of the tall fescue plants in these fields were infected. We estimated tall fescue content and evaluated ergopeptine alkaloids in tall fescue monocultures and composite pastures of several central Kentucky horse farms.
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Ergovaline and Ergovalinine and Tall Fescue Content of Pastures in Central Kentucky
Kentucky has > 2Mha of tall fescue (Festuca arundianacea Schreb.) grown mainly for livestock consumption. Many alkaloids in tall fescue are produced in a mutualistic association between tall fescue and an endophytic fungus (Neotyphodium coenophialum) (Long et al., 2002). Ingestion of tall fescue by livestock may depress reproduction and growth (Schultz & Bush, 2002). Not all Kentucky fields of tall fescue are thought to be infected with endophyte, but forage samples from all surveyed pastures had measurable ergopeptine alkaloids. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that some of the tall fescue plants in these fields were infected. We estimated tall fescue content and evaluated ergopeptine alkaloids in tall fescue monocultures and composite pastures of several central Kentucky horse farms.
