Epichloe endophytes

Fleetwood, D.J., Scott, B., Lane, G.A., Tanaka, A. and Johnson, R.D. (2007) A complex ergovaline gene cluster in Epichloe endophytes of grasses. Appl. Environ. Microbiol, 73,2571-9. 

Taxonomy and Diversity of Epichloe Endophytes Adrian Leuchtmann... 

In the more benign asexual cycle, Epichloe endophytes (and all Neotyphodium species) remain asymptomatic (Fig. 1). As floral primordia are formed, endophytes grow into ovules, proliferate in the nucellus tissues, and later colonize the embryonic axis of the developing seed, which leads to vertical transmission (Freeman, 1904 Philipson and Christey, 1986). Hyphae in the remnant nucellar layer form a conspicuous mat between the aleuron and the seed coat (White et al., 1991). Symptomless endophytes may also invade stamen filaments and anther walls, but have never been found in pollen grains, and apparently are not disseminated via paternal structures (Sampson, 1933 Hinton and Bacon, 1985). Vertical transmission of endophytes in infected tillers occurs at nearly 100% efficiency (Siegel et al., 1984). However, seeds which are free of endophyte may occasionally be produced when shoot meristems of individual... 

Moon CD, Scott B, Schardl CL, Christensen MJ. Evolutionary origins of Epichloe endophytes from annual ryegrasses. Mycologia 92 1103-1118, 2000. 

Moon CD, Tapper BA, Scott B. Identification of Epichloe endophytes in planta by a microsatellite-based PCR fingerprinting assay with automated analysis. Appl Environ Microbiol 65 1268-1279, 1999. 

Figure 1 Structure of Epichloe endophyte ribosomal RNA (rDNA) and f)-tubulin (tub2) genes.

Figure 2 Electrophoretic karyotypes of Epichloe endophytes. Electrophoresis conditions are as described by Murray et al. (1992). Lane 1, Saccharomyces cerevisiae lane 2, Schizosaccharomyces pombe lane 3, Epichloe typhina X Neotyphodium lolii strain Lp1 lane 4, E. typhina x N. lolii strain Lpl-1 lane 5, E. typhina x N. /o//7strain Lp1-2 lane 6, N. lolii strain Lp5 lane 7, N. lolii strain Lp5-1 lane 8, N. lolii strain Lp19 lane 9, N. lolii strain Lp20 lane 10, N. lolii strain Lp21.

Figure 4 Retroelement sequences in Epichloe endophyte genomes. Southern hybridization of Epichloe genomic DNA (2p,g) digested with EcoRI (lanes 2-4) and Hind III (lanes 5-7) and probed with a retroelement sequence, lol-4/23. Lane 1, X-Hind size markers lanes 2 and 5, N. loliistrain Lp19 lanes 3 and 6, E. festucae strain F11 Lanes 4 and 7, E, festucae strain E189.

Ganley ARD, Scott B. Concerted evolution in the ribosomal RNA genes of an Epichloe endophyte hybrid comparison between tandemly-arranged rDNA and dispersed 5S rm genes. Fungal Genet Biol 35 39-51, 2002. 

Groppe K, Boiler T. PCR assay based on a microsatellite-containing locus for detection and quantification of Epichloe endophytes in grass tissue. Appl Env Microbiol... 

In many grass-epichloe symbiota the ergopeptine, ergovaline (8 Table I), is the principal EA. Generally 2, and in some cases 3 or 6 and other clavines, can also be identified in these symbiota (33,43-47). In two symbiota involving Achnatherum species with epichloe endophytes, 2 and 3 are the prineipal EA, and no 8 or any other complex ergopeptine has been observed (47,48). 

Ergopeptines and Lysergic Acid Amides of Epichloe Endophytes... 

Fleetwood DJ, Scott B, Lane GA, Tanaka A, Johnson RD (2007) A Complex Ergovaline Gene Cluster in Epichloe Endophytes of Grasses. Appl Environ Microbiol 73 2571... 

---