TY - JOUR
T1 - Epichloe species
T2 - Fungal symbionts of grasses
AU - Schardl, Christopher L.
PY - 1996
Y1 - 1996
N2 - Epichloe species and their asexual descendants (Acremonium endophytes) are fungal symbionts of C3 grasses that span the symbiotic continuum from antagonism to mutualism depending on the relative importance, respectively, of horizontal transmission of sexual spores versus vertical clonal transmission in healthy grass seeds. At least seven sexual Epichloe species are identifiable by mating tests, and many asexual genotypes are interspecific hybrids. Benefits conferred by the symbionts on host plants include protection from biotic factors and abiotic stresses such as drought. Four classes of beneficial alkaloids are associated with the symbionts: ergot alkaloids, indolediterpenes (lolitrems), peramine, and saturated aminopyrrolizidines (lolines). These alkaloids protect host plants from insect and vertebrate herbivores, including livestock. Genetic engineering of the fungal symbionts as more suitable biological protectants for forage grasses requires identification of fungal genes for alkaloid biosynthesis, and DNA-mediated transformation of the fungi.
AB - Epichloe species and their asexual descendants (Acremonium endophytes) are fungal symbionts of C3 grasses that span the symbiotic continuum from antagonism to mutualism depending on the relative importance, respectively, of horizontal transmission of sexual spores versus vertical clonal transmission in healthy grass seeds. At least seven sexual Epichloe species are identifiable by mating tests, and many asexual genotypes are interspecific hybrids. Benefits conferred by the symbionts on host plants include protection from biotic factors and abiotic stresses such as drought. Four classes of beneficial alkaloids are associated with the symbionts: ergot alkaloids, indolediterpenes (lolitrems), peramine, and saturated aminopyrrolizidines (lolines). These alkaloids protect host plants from insect and vertebrate herbivores, including livestock. Genetic engineering of the fungal symbionts as more suitable biological protectants for forage grasses requires identification of fungal genes for alkaloid biosynthesis, and DNA-mediated transformation of the fungi.
KW - Acremonium endophyte
KW - biological protection
KW - evolution
KW - molecular genetics
KW - mutualism
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0029661739&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0029661739&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1146/annurev.phyto.34.1.109
DO - 10.1146/annurev.phyto.34.1.109
M3 - Review article
C2 - 15012537
AN - SCOPUS:0029661739
SN - 0066-4286
VL - 34
SP - 109
EP - 130
JO - Annual Review of Phytopathology
JF - Annual Review of Phytopathology
ER -