Diversity and origins of endophytic fungal symbionts of the North American grass Festuca arizonica

Z. q. An, J. S. Liu, M. R. Siegel, G. Bunge, C. L. Schardl

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Acremonium spp. endophytes are mutualistic fungal symbionts of many C3 grasses. They are anamorphs of Epichloë typhina (Clavicipitaceae) that have become strictly seedborne, heritable components of symbiotic units ("symbiota"). In order to test the possibility that endophytes may contribute to the genetic diversity of symbiota, a survey was conducted of plants from nine populations of Festuca arizonica in the southern Rocky Mountains. Sequence analysis of rRNA gene segments distinguished three Acremonium endophyte types. Parsimony analysis indicated at least two distinct evolutionary origins of the Acremonium endophytes from E. typhina. Either or both of these evolutionary lineages may have involved cospeciation with the host.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)366-371
Number of pages6
JournalTheoretical And Applied Genetics
Volume85
Issue number2-3
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1992

Keywords

  • Epichloë typhina (Acremonium typhinum)
  • Evolution
  • Parsimony analysis
  • Population
  • rRNA gene

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Agronomy and Crop Science
  • Genetics

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