Asexual Epichloë Fungi—Obligate Mutualists

Asexual Epichloë are obligate fungal mutualists that form symbiosis with many temperate grass species, providing several advantages to the host. These include protection against vertebrate and invertebrate herbivores (i.e., grazing livestock pests, respectively), improved resistance phytopathogens, increased adaptation drought stress, nutrient deficiency, heavy metal-containing soils. Selected strains utilised in agriculture mainly for their pest traits, which moderated via production of Epichloë-derived secondary metabolites. For pastoral agriculture, use these endophyte infected grasses requires balancing insect pests reduced impacts on animal health welfare.