BE9301A Tall Fescue Endophyte E34 Alkaloid Reduction
Solution Overview
Problem
Current tall fescue grasses with endophytes suffer from toxicity issues due to ergot alkaloids, leading to fescue toxicosis in grazing animals, and lack sufficient drought and disease tolerance in extreme climatic conditions.
Innovation Solution
A new Neotyphodium endophyte (E34) is introduced to inoculate tall fescue plants, resulting in the development of the BE9301A variety, which exhibits late maturation, high rust and bacterial wilt tolerance, increased persistence, and reduced alkaloid production, making it safer and more palatable for livestock.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional endophyte-infected tall fescue is used, then drought tolerance and summer survival are improved, but fescue toxicosis occurs due to ergot alkaloid production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the endophyte strain characteristics to produce significantly reduced levels of ergot alkaloids (particularly ergovaline) while maintaining the protective functions against drought and disease. This involves selecting and propagating endophyte strains with inherently lower toxin production capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful effect of high alkaloid production into a beneficial outcome by developing endophyte strains that maintain the protective symbiotic relationship while eliminating or reducing the toxic effects. The endophyte continues to provide drought tolerance and disease resistance without causing fescue toxicosis in grazing animals.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If endophyte-free tall fescue is used, then toxicity to livestock is reduced, but drought tolerance and summer survival are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the endophyte parameters to achieve a balanced state where the symbiotic relationship provides environmental stress tolerance while the harmful toxin production is minimized to safe levels for livestock consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The endophyte acts as an intermediary that mediates between the plant's need for drought tolerance and the livestock's safety. By selecting specific endophyte strains, the system achieves a middle ground where protective functions are maintained while toxic effects are reduced to acceptable levels.
3Ease of operation
If highly palatable tall fescue varieties are selected, then livestock acceptance is improved, but persistence and drought tolerance under extreme conditions are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes multiple parameters simultaneously - selecting endophyte strains that reduce alkaloid production to improve palatability, while maintaining or enhancing the plant's physiological mechanisms for drought tolerance and persistence through careful breeding and selection processes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
BE9301A tall fescue demonstrates improved palatability, persistence, and reduced toxicity to livestock, with significantly lower ergovaline levels compared to traditional endophyte-infected tall fescue, ensuring safer animal consumption and enhanced forage quality under extreme conditions.
Implementation Method 1
This endophyte can be used to form symbiotic host relationships with grass plants
Implementation Method 2
Fescue toxicosis results from ingesting ergot alkaloids. Ergovaline is considered to be the main ergot alkaloid responsible for most animal problems
Data Source
AI summary
A tall fescue variety known as BE9301A which is inoculated with endophyte E34 is provided. Also provided is the endophyte E34. Methods of using the grass plant, seed, and endophyte are also provided. In particular examples, BE9301A is suitable for use in forage pastures due to the low amounts of alkaloids present.