Abstract
Ergot alkaloids in endophyte-infected (E+) tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) are responsible for livestock toxicosis. The host plant is capable of modifying the extent to which endophyte produces ergot alkaloids, possibly via endophyte nutrition by the host. Endophytes vary in alkaloid production. Maintaining the E+ tall fescue is essential for plant survival. Therefore, crop scientists are interested in reducing alkaloid concentration of E+ tall fescue. The objectives of this study were to determine maternal and paternal effects as an estimate of plant and endophyte genotype interactions for ergot alkaloid phenotype and the heritability of the ergot alkaloid trait in divergently selected E+ tall fescue populations. Diallel crosses were conducted among four tall fescue genotypes that varied in alkaloid concentration. Five of six crosses had progeny means less than the parental means when genotypes with lowest alkaloid were the female parents. Four of six crosses had progeny means similar to the parental means of crosses when high alkaloid genotypes were the female parents. Large ranges in progeny suggest an interaction between endophyte and plant affects alkaloid phenotype. In a second experiment, a tall fescue population was screened for alkaloid concentration. Low- and high-alkaloid plants were selected and poly-crossed within each class. Mean alkaloid concentrations of the high- and low-alkaloid progeny were higher or lower than the parental population. The trait was highly heritable and alkaloid concentration was reduced by 86% in the low-alkaloid population after two generations of selection.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
AGEE, C. S., and HILL, N. S. 1994. Ergovaline variability in Acremonium-infected tall fescue due to environment and plant genotype. Crop Sci. 34:221–226.
ASAY, K. H., FRAKES, R. V., and BUCKNER, R. C. 1979. Breeding and cultivars, pp. 111–140, in R. C. Buckner and L. P. Bush (eds.). Tall Fescue. Special Publication Number 20. American Society of Agronomy/Crop Science Society of America/Soil Science Society of America, Madison, Wisconsin.
ARACHEVALETA, M., BACON, C. W., HOVELAND, C. S., and RADCLIFFE, D. E. 1989. Effect of the tall fescue endophyte on plant response to environmental stress. Agron. J. 81:83–90.
BOUTON, J. H., GATES, R. N., BELESKY, D. P., and OWSLEY, M. 1993. Yield and persistence of tall fescue in the southeastern coastal plain after removal of its endophyte. Agron. J. 85:52–55.
BUSH, L. P., BOLING, J. A., and YATES, S. G. 1979. Animal disorders, pp. 247–292, in R. C. Buckner, and L. P. Bush (eds.). Tall Fescue. Special Publication Number 20. American Society of Agronomy/Crop Science Society of America/Soil Science Society of America, Madison, WI.
CLARK, E. M., WHITE, J. F., and PATTERSON, R. M. 1983. Improved histochemical techniques for the detection of Acremonium coenophialum in tall fescue and methods of in vitro culture of the fungus. J. Microbiol. Methods 1:149–155.
CRAWFORD, R. J., JR., FORWOOD, J. R., BELYEA, R. L., and GARNER, G. B. 1989. Relationship between level of endophyte infection and cattle gains on tall fescue. J. Prod. Agric. 2:147–151.
CRESS, W. A., CHAYET, L. T., and RILLING, H. C. 1991. Crystallization and partial characterization of dimethylallyl pyrophosphate: L-Tryptophan dimethylallyl transferase from Claviceps spp. SD58. J. Chem. 256(10):10917–10923.
ELMI, A. A., and WEST, C. P. 1989. Endophyte effect on leaf osmotic adjustment in tall fescue. Agron. Abstr. 81:111.
HILL, N. S. 1993. Physiology of plant-endophyte interactions: implications and use of endophytes in plant breeding, pp. 161–169, in D. E. Hume, G. C. M. Latch, and S. E. Easton (eds.). Proceedings of the Second International Symposium on Acremonium/Grass Interactions: Plenary Papers. February 3–6, Palmerston North, New Zealand. AgResearch Grasslands, Palmerston North.
HILL, N. S. 1995. Progress report—The University of Georgia, pp. 14–16, in F. T. Withers (ed.). Proceedings of the Tall Fescue Toxicosis Workshop. November 13–15, Nashville, The Southern Extension and Research Activity Information Exchange Group 8. Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Mississippi State, Mississippi.
HILL, N. S., and AGEE, C. S. 1994. Detection of ergoline alkaloids in endophyte-infected tall fescue by immunoassay. Crop Sci. 34:530–534.
HILL, N. S., BELESKY, D. P., and STRINGER, W. C. 1991a. Competitiveness of tall fescue as influenced by Acremonium coenophialum. Crop Sci. 31:185–190.
HILL, N. S., PARROTT, W. A., and POPE, D. D. 1991b. Ergopeptine alkaloid production by endophytes in a common tall fescue genotype. Crop Sci. 31:1545–1547.
HILL, N. S., THOMPSON, F. N., DAWE, D. L., and STUEDEMANN, J. A. 1994. Antibody binding of circulating ergot alkaloids in cattle grazing tall fescue. Am. J. Vet. Res. 55:419–424.
LEE, S. L., FLOSS, H. G., and HEINSTEIN, P. 1976. Purification and properties of dimethylallyl-pyrophosphate: Tryptophan dimethylallyl transferase, the first enzyme of ergot alkaloid biosynthesis in Claviceps sp. SD58. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 177:84–94.
LITTLE, T. M., and HILLS, F. J. 1978. Agricultural Experimentation: Design and Analysis. John Wiley and Sons, New York.
LYONS, P. C., PLATTNER, R. D., and BACON, C. W. 1986. Occurrence of peptide and clavine ergot alkaloids in tall fescue. Science 232:487–489.
ROWAN, D. D., and GAYNOR, D. L. 1986. Isolation of feeding deterrents against argentine stem weevil from ryegrass infected with the endophyte. J. Chem. Ecol. 12:647–658.
ROWAN, D. D., DYMOCK, J. J., and BRIMBLE, M. A. 1990. Effect of fungal metabolite peramine and analogs on feeding and development of argentine stem weevil (Listronotus bonariensis). J. Chem. Ecol. 16:1683–1695.
ROYLANCE, J. T., HILL, N. S., and AGEE, C. S. 1994. Ergovaline and peramine production in endophyte-infected tall fescue: independent regulation and effects of plant and endophytic genotype. J. Chem. Ecol. 20:2171–2183.
SIEGEL, M. R., and LATCH, G. C. M. 1991. Expression of antifungal activity in agar culture by isolates of grass endophyte. Mycologia 83:529–537.
SIEGEL, M. R., LATCH, G. C. M., and JOHNSON, M. C. 1987. Fungal endophyte of grasses. Annu. Rev. Phytopathol. 25:293–315.
SIEGEL, M. R., LATCH, G. C. M., BUSH, L. P., FANNIN, F. F., ROWAN, D. D., TAPPER, B. A., BACON, C. W., and JOHNSON, M. C. 1990. Fungal endophyte-infected grasses: Alkaloid accumulation and aphid response. J. Chem. Ecol. 16:3301–3315.
SLEPER, D. A. 1979. Plant breeding, selection, and species in relation to grass tetany, pp. 63–78, in V. V. Rendig and D. L. Grunes (eds.). Grass Tetany. Special Publication Number 35. American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America. Madison, Wisconsin.
STUEDEMANN, J. A., and HOVELAND, C. S. 1988. Fescue endophyte: History and impact on animal agriculture. J. Prod. Agric. 1:39–44.
WEST, C. P., IZEKOR, E., OOSTERHUIS, D. M., and ROBBINS, R. T. 1988. The effect of Acremonium coenophialum on the growth and nematode infestation of tall fescue. Plant Soil 112:3–6.
WHITE, J. F., JR., and COLE, G. R. 1985. Endophyte-host associations in forage grasses. I. Distribution of fungal endophytes in some species of Lolium and Festuca. Mycologia 77:323–327.
YATES, S. G., and TOOKEY, H. L. 1965. Festucine, and alkaloid from tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.): Chemistry of the functional groups. Aust. J. Chem. 18:53–60.
YATES, S. G., PLATTNER, R. D., and GARNER, G. B. 1985. Detection of ergopeptine alkaloids in endophyte-infected, toxic KY 31 tall fescue by mass spectrometry. J. Agric. Food Chem. 33:719–722.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Adcock, R.A., Hill, N.S., Bouton, J.H. et al. Symbiont Regulation and Reducing Ergot Alkaloid Concentration by Breeding Endophyte-Infected Tall Fescue. J Chem Ecol 23, 691–704 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOEC.0000006404.33191.60
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOEC.0000006404.33191.60