Fungal Endophytes of Grasses and Morning Glories, and Their Bioprotective Alkaloids

The fungal family Clavicipitaceae includes parasites and symbionts of invertebrate animals and plants, and is known for production of diverse alkaloids. Vertical transmission is characteristic of many symbioses of the epichloae with cool season grasses, as well as Periglandula species in morning glories. The epichloae are also known for their diverse chemotypes comprising various combinations of four different alkaloid classes namely ergot alkaloids, indole-diterpenes, peramine and loline alkaloids. This chapter first reviews the relationships among plant-associated Clavicipitaceae, and then discusses the bioprotective alkaloids that they produce. Particularly interesting features of plant-Clavicipitaceae symbioses include the manner of fungal colonization of infected plant tissues, the location on the plant where they fruit, and whether they are capable of vertical transmission. Many Clavicipitaceae have been described as "epibiotic," meaning that they are restricted to growth on plant surfaces or between different host tissues, but never are observed to grow between cells within tissues.