Epichloë festucae
| Epichloë festucae | ||||||||||||
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Epichloë festucae on meadow fescue |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Epichloë festucae | ||||||||||||
| ( Leuchtm. , Schardl & MRSiegel ) |
Epichloe festucae is an endophytic fungus belonging to the family of the ( ergot fungus relatives ). It lives in a symbiotic community in and on sweet grasses of the genera Schwingel ( Festuca ), Lolche ( Lolium ) and Schiller grasses ( Koeleria ).
features
Epichloë festucae is an endophytic fungus that lives in the intercellular spaces of the leaves and stems of the host plants. A colonization of the host plants with Epichloë festucae is recognizable on the stalk by a whitish stroma on which yellowish perithecia form. Epichloë festucae differs from other species of the genus Epichloë by relatively large ascospores (250 - 390 µm × 1.6 - 2.0 µm), which disintegrate in the middle when the fruit is ripe. The horizontal transmission via ascospores and the vertical transmission via the host plant equally play a role as transmission mechanisms.
As part of a symbiosis, the host plant supplies the fungus with nutrients. In return, the fungus protects the host plant from predators by producing alkaloids . The alkaloids produced by Epichloë festucae include ergot alkaloids , particularly ergovalin , lolitreme , loline alkaloids and peramine . Loline alkaloids and peramin have an insecticidal effect. The ergot alkaloids have a variety of effects on the body functions of vertebrates and, with the neurotoxic lolitremes, provide protection against herbivores. In addition, the fungus and the host plant have well-coordinated intercellular communication from which both partners benefit.
Occurrence
Like all representatives of the genus Epichloë , the native occurrence of Epichloë festucae is limited to the temperate zones of the northern hemisphere. The natural range of Epichloë festucae is Eurasia .
meaning
The colonization of pasture grasses with Epichloë festucae and related mushrooms and their consumption by grazing cattle is the cause of the grazing cattle disease Fescue toxicosis . The symptoms of this disease are attributed to the ergot alkaloids produced by Epichloë and Neotyphodium species.
In evolutionary terms, is Epichloë festucae for anamorphic genus Neotyphodium important. Various representatives of this genus have emerged from Epichloë festucae by hybridization with other Epichloë species.
Individual evidence
- ↑ A. Leuchtmann, C. Schardl, MR Siegel: Sexual compatibility and taxonomy of a new species of Epichloë symbiotic with fine fescue grasses . In: Mycologia . 86, No. 6, 1995, pp. 802-812.
- ↑ a b A. Leuchtmann: Taxonomy and diversity of Epichloë endophytes . In: JF White, CW Bacon, NL Hywel-Jones, JW Spatafora (eds.): Clavicipitalean fungi evolutionary biology, chemistry, biocontrol and cultural impact . Marcel Dekker, New York :, pp. 169–194.
- ↑ CL Schardl et al .: Plant-symbiotic fungi as chemical engineers: multi-genome analysis of the clavicipitaceae reveals dynamics of alkaloid loci . In: PLoS Genet. . 9, No. 2, 2013, pp. E1003323 – e1003323. doi : 10.1371 / journal.pgen.1003323 . PMID 23468653 .
- ↑ a b c C. L. Schardl: Epichloe festucae and related mutualistic symbionts of grasses . In: Fungal Genet. Biol . 33, No. 2, 2001, pp. 69-82. doi : 10.1006 / fgbi.2001.1275 . PMID 11456460 .
