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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #409944
Research Project: Improving Plant, Soil, and Cropping Systems Health and Productivity through Advanced Integration of Comprehensive Management Practices

Location: Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit

Title: Response of sod webworm Chrysoteuchia topiaria Zeller (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) to endophyte infection and mycotoxin profiles of cool-season turfgrass species grown for seed in Oregon

Author
item KAUR, NAVNEET - Oregon State University
item Rivedal, Hannah
item INTASIN, JULALUCK - Oregon State University
item VERHOEVEN, ELIZABETH - Oregon State University
item DI, YANMING - Oregon State University
item ANDERSON, NICOLE - Oregon State University
item Dorman, Seth
item DURINGER, JENNIFER - Oregon State University

Submitted to: Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/7/2024
Publication Date: 6/30/2024
Citation: Kaur, N., Rivedal, H.M., Intasin, J., Verhoeven, E.C., Di, Y., Anderson, N.P., Dorman, S.J., Duringer, J.M. 2024. Response of sod webworm Chrysoteuchia topiaria Zeller (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) to endophyte infection and mycotoxin profiles of cool-season turfgrass species grown for seed in Oregon. Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management. 10(2). Article e20291. https://doi.org/10.1002/cft2.20291.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cft2.20291

Interpretive Summary: The cranberry girdler (Chrysoteuchia topiaria) is one of the most damaging insect pests in cool-season turfgrass species grown for seed in Oregon. Chemical control options are limited. Endophytes, fungi that live within the turfgrass plants, could potentially provide control from the cranberry girdler through production of toxic compounds. We characterized the endophyte status of 19 commercially available cultivars of tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, and fine fescue grown for seed in Oregon. Tall fescue cultivars with endophyte infections provided increased protection against the cranberry girdler. Increased insect mortality was associated with increased concentrations of three endophyte-produced toxins. Utilization of endophyte-mediated resistance will allow sustainable insect pest management in grass grown for seed crops.

Technical Abstract: The cranberry girdler (Chrysoteuchia topiaria) is one of the most damaging insect pests in cool-season turfgrass species grown for seed in Oregon. Chemical control options are limited and require irrigation or rainfall for adequate insecticide incorporation to control C. topiaria larvae. Epichloë endophytes associated with cool-season turfgrass species and their mycotoxin profiles are well-documented in offering plant protection against invertebrates; these fungi may offer sustainable pest resistant solutions for the cranberry girdler. Our objectives were to characterize endophyte-mediated resistance to C. topiaria in 19 commercially available cultivars of tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, and fine fescue grown for seed in Oregon. Endophyte status (presence and viability) of fungal endophytes and their mycotoxin profiles were measured using PCR and LC-MS, respectively. No-choice assays were conducted in the laboratory to measure the impact of endophyte status on C. topiaria larvae over two years. Our results suggest that increased mortality of C. topiaria larvae (R2= 0.8522, year 1; R2= 0.6628, year 2) was most influenced by total peramine and ergot alkaloid, and total ergoline concentrations in 2020 and 2021, respectively, in tall fescue cultivars. However, this trend was not found in the perennial ryegrass and fine fescue cultivars included in this study. Overall, these findings imply that a viable grass-endophyte association can be utilized as a sustainable alternative to defend against C. topiaria in tall fescue.