Author
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Clement, Stephen |
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Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 1/21/2000 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: None. Technical Abstract: Infection of C3 grasses with fungal endophytes, Epichloe species and their Neotyphodium asexual relatives, provide hosts with fitness-enhancing properties such as increased resistance to phytophagous insects. While some Epichloe species produce sexual spores and are pathogenic, asexual Neotyphodium fungi are not pathogenic and propagate only by infecting seeds sas they develop on infected mother plants. Insect resistance is the result of the endophytic fungus or the grass-fungus interaction producing alkaloids. After Neotyphodium endophytes in grasses were linked to insect resistance in the early 1980s, seed companies deployed endophytes in cultivars of turf-type ryegrasses and fescues. Today, companies develop and market turfgrasses with endophyte-enhanced resistance to pests. This is a good example of the useful application of scientific knowledge for commercial enterprise. Unfortunately, many grass-endophyte assocations are detrimental to livestock production because some fungal alkaloids are toxi to grazing animals. Because endophyte-free forage grasses exhibit low tolerance to grazing pressure, efforts are underway to develop endophyte- infected fescues and ryegrasses incapable of producing animal toxins but which produce toxins for insect resistance. To do this, researchers are using endophytes from native grasses which vary considerably in alkaloid profiles and are applying molecular techniques to modify endophytes for specific purposes. With the recent discoveries of Neotyphodium fungi in wild barleys (Hordeum) and wild wheats (Triticum), the potential use of endophytes in cereal crops for insect control has been suggested. |