Endophyte Removal by Fungicides from Ramets of Perennial Ryegrass and Tall Fescue

Abstract

To understand the effects of Neotyphodium endophytes on plant characteristics, it is necessary to provide clones with and without endophyte. One method is to remove the endophyte from infected clones by fungicides. To establish an effective method perennial ryegrass (Lolium pcrcrific L.) plants infected with the endophyte N, tolii and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) plants infected with N, coenophialum were used to test 3 different fungicides at 3 levels of concentration, and 3 soaking times. The fungicide benomyl was effective in killing endophyte in both perennial ryegrass and tall fescue, triforine was effective in tall fescue and effective in some perennial ryegrass plants. Thiophanate-methyl had little effect on endophyte in perennial ryegrass and had no effect on endophyte in tall fescue. These results indicate that interactions exist between these fungicides and Neotyphodium spp. The endophyte was killed in all 9 treated ramets of both perennial ryegrass and tall fescue when they were soaked in 2% benomyl solution for 18 hours. Furthermore, the endophyte was killed in all the tall fescue ramets soaked in 2% of triforine for 18 hours. The killing of endophyte w-as enhanced with both the increase in fungicide concentration and length of time in the fungicide.