ABSTRACT Neotyphodium coenophialum, an endophytic fungus associated with tall fescue grass, enhances host fitness and imparts pest resistance. This symbiotum is implicated in the reduction of stresses, including plant-parasitic nematodes. To substantiate this implication, toxicological effects of root extracts, polyphenolic fraction, ergot, and loline alkaloids from endophyte-infected tall fesc...

Genetic factors, mainly heritability estimates, have been reviewed briefly for all major disease traits affecting sheep production in New Zealand and Australia. The traits reported included resistances to nematode parasites, liver fluke, flystrike and fleece-rot, lice, mycotoxic diseases (facial eczema, ryegrass staggers, heat stress caused by ergovaline, and infertility caused by zearalenone),...

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact endophyte-infected tall fescue (E+) seed, and ergovaline (ERV), on gut satiety hormones investigate changes in post-absorptive metabolism. Holstein steers (n=12; 260 ± 16 kg) were assigned one three treatments (ERV concentration diet dry matter): 0, 1.8, 2.7 ppm with animals being adapted an indoor environment for 4 days followed b...

The major insect pest of Australian cool temperate pastures is the root-feeding insect Heteronychus arator (African black beetle, ABB). Significant pasture damage can occur even at low ABB densities (11 individuals per square meter), and often re-sowing of the whole paddock is required. Mitigation of the effects of pasture pests, and in particular subterranean species such as the larval form of...

Tall fescue (Festuca rundinacea) plants can be infected with the endophytic fungus Acremonium coenophialum. This fungus, which grows subcutaneously in leaves, stems, and seeds, does not undergo sexual reproduction or sporulate, and cannot survive outside the plant (Clay 1988). The fungus is passed from one generation to the next through infected seed. A mutualistic relationship exists between t...

Diarrhea is caused by factors that alter absorption and secretion of water and ions across the intestinal epithelium and disrupt motility. Parasitic infection, stress, poor nutrition, and exposure to plant or fungal toxins predispose livestock to noninfectious diarrhea. This is more prevalent in sheep that graze pastures infected with wild-type endophytic fungus, suggesting the involvement of f...

Recent Advances in Phytochemistry 42, DOI 10.1007/978-1-4614-4066-6_3, © Springer Science+Business Media New York 2012 Abstract Fescue toxicosis and perennial ryegrass staggers are two of the most common toxic plant diseases plaguing livestock in the United States, and result from consumption of forage containing the endophyte-produced mycotoxins ergovaline and lysergic acid (fescue toxicosis) ...

Different group of alkaloids are produced during the symbiotic development of fungal endophytes of the genus Epichloë in grass. The structure and toxicity of the compounds vary considerably in mammalian herbivores and in crop pests. Alkaloids of the indole-diterpene group, of which lolitrem B is the most toxic, were first characterized in endophyte-infected perennial ryegrass, and are responsib...

A controlled feeding study was undertaken to determine the physiological and production effects of consuming perennial ryegrass alkaloids (fed via seed) under extreme heat in sheep. Twenty-four Merino ewe weaners (6 months; initial BW 30.8 ± 1.0 kg) were selected and the treatment period lasted 21 days following a 14 day acclimatisation period. Two levels of two factors were used. The first fac...