The production of loline alkaloids in artificial and natural grass/endophyte associations

Abstract

Infection of grasses by Neotyphodium spp. endophytes is associated with the presence of alkaloids. This study investigated the production of loline alkaloids in endophyte-infected tall fescue, meadow fescue and perennial ryegrass. Most of the grass/endophyte associations were artificially created by inoculating parent plants with different Neotyphodium endophytes. The presence of lolines was dependent upon endophyte species and strain, but host species also influenced which lolines were produced. Concentrations of the different lolines, and the ratio at which they occurred, were also dependent upon endophyte isolate and host species. These findings are significant given that lolines contribute to host resistance against some insect pests.