A complex ergovaline gene cluster in epichloe endophytes of grasses.

Variation in the expression of ergot alkaloids between individual tillers of perennial ryegrass

Epichloë fungal endophytes of cool season grasses are well-known to produce a range of alkaloids of benefit to the host. Some of these compounds are advantageous to agriculture due to qualities that promote pasture persistence (e.g., the loline class of alkaloids confer insect protection) while others are detrimental to the well-being of grazing livestock. The ergot alkaloids (e.g., ergovaline)...

Ergovaline occurrence in grasses infected by fungal endophytes of semiarid pastures in Spain

The role of the Oregon State University Endophyte Service Laboratory in diagnosing clinical cases of endophyte toxicoses.

The Oregon State University Colleges of Veterinary Medicine and Agricultural Sciences instituted the Endophyte Service Laboratory to aid in diagnosing toxicity problems associated with cool-season grasses in livestock. The endophyte (Neotyphodium coenophalum) present in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) produces ergopeptine alkaloids, of which ergovaline is the molecule used to determine exposu...

Functional characterization of salicylate hydroxylase from the fungal endophyte Epichloë festucae

Epichloë spp. are symbiotic fungal endophytes of many cool season grasses. The presence of the fungal endophytes often confers insect, drought, and disease tolerance to the host grasses. The presence of the fungal endophytes within the host plants does not elicit host defense responses. The molecular basis for this phenomenon is not known. Epichloë festucae, the endophyte of Festuca rubra, expr...

Detection of lpsA Gene in Neotyphodium endophytic Fungi of Grasses in Iran

The lpsA gene, a late acting gene in the biosynthetic pathway of ergovaline, a suspected causative agent for fescue toxicosis in cattle, has been cloned from Neotyphodium lolii, an endophytic fungus of Lolium perenne. In this study, a similar gene was detected in several strains of endophytic Neotyphodium spp. isolated from grass hosts endogenous to Iran using direct and nested-PCR assays. Exce...