Comparison of endophyte detection in fescue and ryegrass seeds using an immunoblot assay and a microscopic method

Trento, Simone; Elias, Sabry G.; Garay, A. S.; Zavala, Jorge Huerta

doi:10.15258/sst.2007.35.1.06

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…Prior studies have found that microscopic methods typically give similar results to tissue print immunoblot techniques or PCR-based methods of endophyte detection (e.g., Dombrowski et al 2006, Trento et al 2007). However, for two species, endophyte detection in tillers was much lower than for seeds (Cinna arundinacea, Elymus hystrix); this could indicate problems with detection or some degree of non-systemic endophyte infection (Bazely et al 2007).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Plant-associated microbes are increasingly recognized for their potential to affect host populations, plant communities, and even herbivores and predators (van der Heijden et al 1998, Omacini et al 2001, Gehring and Whitham 2002, Klironomos 2002, Cahill et al 2008. Most plants associate with microbial symbionts, including mycorrhizal fungi, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and fungal endophytes Read 1997, Bacon andWhite 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A fungus among us: broad patterns of endophyte distribution in the grasses

Rudgers

Afkhami

Rúa

et al. 2009

Ecology

117

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Plant-associated microbes have been increasingly recognized for influencing host populations, plant communities, and even herbivores and predators. Thus, understanding factors that affect the distribution and abundance of microbial symbioses may be important for predicting the ecological dynamics of communities. Using endophytic fungi-grass symbioses, we explored how intrinsic traits of the symbiosis, specifically transmission mode, may influence symbiont frequencies in host populations. Combining published literature with new field surveys, we compared Epichloë endophytes, which had mixed horizontal and vertical transmission, with Neotyphodium endophytes, which were exclusively vertically transmitted from host plants to seeds. Exclusively vertical transmission should select against pathogenicity because symbionts depend entirely on hosts for reproduction. Across 118 host species, we found that Neotyphodium hosts had 40-130% higher symbiont frequencies than Epichloë hosts. In field surveys, endophyte frequency was positively correlated with the local density of hosts, but only for Epichloë, suggesting that contagiously spread Epichloë may attain higher frequencies when hosts are more abundant. Epichloë endophytes were also more likely than Neotyphodium to have imperfect vertical transmission; thus, hosts may reduce the transmission of more pathogenic symbionts to seeds. Results are consistent with the conclusion that the evolutionary transition to exclusively vertical transmission can alter patterns of symbiont frequency in nature.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A fungus among us: broad patterns of endophyte distribution in the grasses

Rudgers

Afkhami

Rúa

et al. 2009

Ecology

117

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“…The International Seed Testing Association has approved microscopic and immunoblot methods for endophyte detection (Hill et al, 2002). The tissue print immunoblot procedure is preferred because multiple samples can be tested at one time, the method requires less training, and is more rapid and reliable (Trento et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determining the earliest growth stage to detect the presence of endophytes in tall fescue and perennial ryegrass seedlings using molecular markers

et al. 2023

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Background Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea [Schreb.], Lolium arundinaceum [Schreb.] Darbysh) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) are important cool‐season forage and amenity grasses that have a mutualistic association with an endophytic fungus. Endophytes confer insect and drought resistance to plants but can produce mammalian toxins. Novel endophytes that do not produce mammalian toxins have been introduced to elite cultivars for commercial production. Seed companies need to maintain adequate levels of novel endophytes within the elite forage cultivars. Endophyte detection is performed using immunochemical and molecular techniques because of their speed and reliability. Early detection in seedlings is essential to evaluate the viability of the endophyte within seed lots. Methods This research aimed to identify the earliest growth stage in which immunochemical and molecular methods can detect viable endophyte in seedlings of tall fescue cultivars BarOptima (e34), Texoma MaxQII (584), and Jesup MaxQ (542), as well as the perennial ryegrass cultivar Remington (NEA2). Results Immunochemical testing detected endophytes in seedlings 14 days after germination (DAG), but the detection rate increased until 42 DAG in some cultivars tested. The molecular marker Tef1exon detected endophytes at a lower rate than the immunochemical method at 28–42 DAG. However, there was insufficient DNA to detect endophytes in 14 DAG seedlings using markers. Conclusions We conclude that the most accurate detection of viable endophytes in seedlings was 42 DAG, at which sufficient and consistent endophyte colonization occurred.

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