Grass endophyte

Abstract

A method of protecting a host grass from stress, such as caused by insect pests, by artificially inoculating the host grass with an endophyte-containing composition is disclosed. The endophyte produces loline at a level sufficient to confer protection to the endophyte-infected host grass and does not produce detectable levels of alkaloids having toxicity to ruminant animals such as sheep, cattle, goats, or deer. In vitro cultures of the endophyteNeotyphodium uncinatum, var. U2 are disclosed as well as infected plants and seeds. The infected plants and seeds produce 5.0-20,000 μg lolines per gram dry weight of grass and do not produce detectable levels of alkaloids having toxicity to ruminant animals such as ergovaline, peramine, lolitrem B and epoxy-Janthitrems.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]This invention relates to fungal endophytes and combinations of endophytes with grass plants.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]Endophyte-infected grasses are relatively pest-resistant and drought-tolerant, making them ideal candidates for low maintenance situations such as turf purposes and erosion control. The endophyte does not affect either the growth or the appearance of the grass. Endophytes are transmitted only through seed and their presence requires a laboratory evaluation to confirm Endophyte-infected grasses generally have low palatability to livestock and may lead to a variety of problems when used as livestock feed such as lameness, low energy, poor reproductive capacity both in conception and bringing the fetus to term, and low milk production. These problems are due to the presence of a range of alkaloids produced by the endophyte which are also responsible for the pest- and drought-resistance.[...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]In preferred embodiments, levels of ergot alkaloids in the endophyte-infected host grass are less than detectable levels of 0.2 μg / g, (wt. alkaloid / dry wt. grass).

[0013]In preferred embodiments, levels of pyrrolopyrazine alkaloids in the endophyte-infected host grass are less than 0.1 μg / g, (wt. alkaloid / dry wt. grass).

Problems solved by technology

Endophytes are transmitted only through seed and their presence requires a laboratory evaluation to confirm Endophyte-infected grasses generally have low palatability to livestock and may lead to a variety of problems when used as livestock feed such as lameness, low energy, poor reproductive capacity both in conception and bringing the fetus to term, and low milk production.

These problems are due to the presence of a range of alkaloids produced by the endophyte which are also responsible for the pest- and drought-resistance.

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