Epichloë festucae in fescue
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About Epichloë festucae
Epichloë festucae, and many related epichloae (fungal genera Epichloë and Neotyphodium) are bioprotective, seed-transmissible symbionts (endophytes) of grasses in the subfamily Pooideae; the so-called cool-season grasses. They are known for production of various alkaloids, some of which protect against insects, and others that can cause episodes of livestock toxicosis. Strains lacking the anti-vertebrate activities greatly enhance productivity of forage grasses. The endophytes inconspicuously but efficiently transmit by colonizing host panicles (left), but some such as E. festucae can also fruit on their hosts (right), making classical genetic analysis possible. Molecular biological techniques have been useful for studying how E. festucae and it hosts get along so well in nature.
Fungal symbionts of the related genera Epichloë (which have a sexual state) and Neotyphodium (strictly asexual) are symbionts of many cool-season grasses (subfamily Pooideae) (Clay and Leuchtmann, 1989; Schardl et al., 1997), to which they provide a variety of fitness enhancements such as increased resistance to herbivory, parasitism, and drought, as well as growth enhancements (reviewed in Clay, 1990; Schardl and Clay, 1997) and improved nutrient acquisition (Malinowski and Belesky, 1999).
— Schardl, Christopher L. “Epichloë festucae and Related Mutualistic Symbionts of Grasses.” Fungal Genetics and Biology 33 (2001): 6982.