2011 Volume 61 Issue 1 Pages 25-30
Among endo-symbionts of plants (endophytes), fungi of the genus Neotyphodium (asexual derivatives of Epichloë species: epichloë endophytes) have been intensively studied for their protective effects to their hosts, grass species of the subfamily Pooideae, which includes major forage and turf grasses species. With their seed-borne (maternally transmitted) lifestyle, the endophytes can be maintained within the host plant population over generations to provide virtual genetic traits to the plant. Their use in agriculture began with ornamental/sports turf grasses, as some of them have toxicity not only to insects but also to grazing animals (mammals), but later, fungal strains not toxic to mammals were selected and their application was expanded to forage grasses. Their use may be extended to food crops in the future.
