The purpose of this work was to determine the frequency of infection by fungal endophytes in Festuca rubra plants from Mediterranean permanent grasslands (dehesas). Plants infected with the fungal endophyte Epichloë festucae were detected in all twenty‐seven populations studied in the province of Salamanca, Spain. Infection frequencies in six selected populations ranged from 44% to 92% (average, 70%) of the plants. Infected plants were almost always symptomless. These results suggest that the association between E. festucae and F. rubra is common and occurs at a high frequency in Mediterranean permanent grasslands.

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The effect of the growing season and topographic zone on bio mass production, protein content, cell content (CC), lignin, celhtlose, hemicellulose, digestibility (DMD), and mineral element concentrations (P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn) were studied in herbage samples collected from semiarid grasslands in Central-Western Spain. Protein and mineral contents decreased as the growing season progressed whereas fibre properties tended to increase. Topographic gradient significantly affected peak biomass production, fibre properties, protein and mineral contents.Stepwise multiple regression showed that the prediction of bio mass production on these areas was related to ceihdose, Na, Fe, and Mg contents in the grassland community whereas tibre prop erties were mainly predicted by Ca, Na, and Cu. Principal compo nent analysis indicated that the temporal evolution (component II) of the organic variables determined pasture quality whereas most of the variation in mineral content was related to the top+ graphical gradient (component I). Some organic and inorganic parameters may cause deficiencies in cattle grazing on the upper and middle zones, mostly at the end of the growing season. The data suggest that information about the temporal and spatial variations of the production and nutritional quality of semiarid grassland is necessary for making correct management.

A survey of grass species associated with Epichloë and Neotyphodium fungal endophytes was made in permanent semi‐arid grasslands of western Spain. Endophytes were isolated from 11 of 49 grass species analysed. Infected plants of Festuca arundinacea, Festuca rubra, Dactylis glomerata and Lolium perenne were detected at most locations studied. The grasses, Agrostis castellana, Brachypodium phoenicoides and Festuca ampla, are previously unknown endophyte hosts. The results obtained show that endophyte–grass interactions are present in the grasslands where this study was conducted.

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