Evolutionary diversification of fungal endophytes of tall fescue grass by hybridization with Epichloë species.

Tsai, Huei‐Fung; Liu, Jih-Shiou; Stäben, Chuck; Christensen, Michael J.; Latch, G. C. M.; Siegel, Malcolm R.; Schardl, Christopher L.

doi:10.1073/pnas.91.7.2542

Cited by 247 publications

(149 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Direct contact between strains is a precondition for exchange of genetic information between strains if one of them is asexual. Some species in the EpichloeW \Neotyphodium complex are believed to be the result of past hybridizations between sexual and asexual species (Tsai et al, 1994). The probability of parasexual hybridization is enhanced if strains regularly have direct contact.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When two strains have direct contact, genetic information can be exchanged without sex. This mechanism may have been involved in the speciation process of some species in the EpichloeW \Neotyphodium complex, which are proposed to be of hybrid origin (Tsai et al, 1994). Moreover, theoretical models show that multistrain infections have significant influence on the evolution of virulence of parasites and the population dynamics of hosts and parasites (Bull, 1994 ;.…”

Section: mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Multistrain infections of the grass Brachypodium sylvaticum by its fungal endophyte Epichloë sylvatica

Meijer

Leuchtmann

1999

New Phytologist

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Endophytes of the genus EpichloeW (Clavicipitaceae, Ascomycota) are systemic symbionts of cool-season grasses. Their interactions with grass hosts may vary between mutualistic and pathogenic depending on the mode of endophyte reproduction. Sexual strains prevent flowering and seed set (choke disease) of the host and can be horizontally transmitted by ascospores, while asexual strains remain asymptomatic and are vertically transmitted through seeds. In Switzerland nearly all plants of Brachypodium sylvaticum (Huds.) P.B. are infected by EpichloeW sylvatica Leuchtmann & Schardl, but choke symptoms are formed very rarely, and are restricted to particular locations and to a minority of plants at those locations. Earlier research has revealed that E. sylvatica is genetically differentiated into sexual and asexual subpopulations. Given the high level of infection and assuming horizontal transmission of sexual strains, multiple host infections have been predicted. In this study, 25 plants out of 63 examined by isozyme analysis were found to be infected by two or three different endophyte genotypes. In most cases endophyte genotypes appeared to be correlated with the symptom type of a particular tiller, suggesting that the fungal genome controls choke formation and that the sexual and asexual subpopulations are separated at the ramet (tiller) level rather than at the genet (plant) level. These conclusions were further supported by analyses with log-linear models of the population structure of E. sylvatica at four locations where choke symptoms were present. These analyses also revealed a geographic structure in the asexual subpopulation but not in the sexual subpopulation which could be caused by the different dispersal ranges of their propagules. The rare occurrence of sexually reproducing strains and the dominance of a single genotype in asymptomatic plant populations may be explained by the colonization history of B. sylvaticum and its endophyte in Switzerland.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: mentioning

confidence: 99%

Multistrain infections of the grass Brachypodium sylvaticum by its fungal endophyte Epichloë sylvatica

Meijer

Leuchtmann

1999

New Phytologist

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“…they can fuse somatic cells (hyphae) and sometimes nuclei. Although parasexual genetic exchange is commonly between conspecific fungi, many Neotyphodium Tsai et al, 1994). Presumably, this occurs after a grassNeotypkodium symbiotum becomes infected with the Epickloe species so that the two fungi coexist in one plant.…”

Section: Evolution Of Grass/endophyte Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In both cases quite a different evolutionary process, interspecific hybridization of the fungal symbionts, is sometimes involved. In fact, phylogenetic analysis of asexual descendants of Epichloe species, namely the Neotyphodium species, provided the first genetic documentation of fungal evolution by interspecific hybridization Tsai et al, 1994).…”

Section: Evolution Of Grass/endophyte Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bioprotective Alkaloids of Grass-Fungal Endophyte Symbioses

Bush¹,

Wilkinson²,

Schardl³

1997

Plant Physiology

432

350

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“…includes multiple interspecific hybridization events (Tsai et al 1994;Schardl 2001;Clay and Schardl 2002;Moon et al 2004). Thus, comparing the clusters from three seed-transmitted Neotyphodium anamorphs and their sexual counterpart, E. festucae, allowed determining which Epichloe¨ancestors were the most likely contributors of LOL in these asexual loline synthesizers.…”

Section: Loline Alkaloids (La)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Endophytes: exploiting biodiversity for the improvement of natural product-based drug discovery

Staniek

Woerdenbag

Kayser

2008

Journal of Plant Interactions

132

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Endophytes, microorganisms that colonize internal tissues of all plant species, create a huge biodiversity with yet unknown novel natural products, presumed to push forward the frontiers of drug discovery. Next to the clinically acknowledged antineoplastic agent, paclitaxel, endophyte research has yielded potential drug lead compounds with antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, insulin mimetic, anti-neurodegenerative and immunosuppressant properties. Furthermore, while being implicated in livestock neurotoxicosis, some endophyte-produced alkaloids have been shown to display insecticidal activity. The endophyte-host relationship is postulated to be a 'balanced antagonism'. Moreover, the plausibility of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) hypothesis is taken into account. Knowledge of the genetic background of endophytic natural product biosynthesis is discussed on the basis of loline alkaloids, ergopeptines, lolitrems and maytansinoids. The current dynamic progress in genomics will contribute to a better understanding of endophytic microbes and to further exploiting them as a source of pharmaceutically relevant compounds.

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Evolutionary diversification of fungal endophytes of tall fescue grass by hybridization with Epichloë species.

Abstract: The mutulisc aoatin of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacca) with seed-borne Hnal symbionts (endophytes)

Cited by 247 publications

References 21 publications

Multistrain infections of the grass Brachypodium sylvaticum by its fungal endophyte Epichloë sylvatica

Multistrain infections of the grass Brachypodium sylvaticum by its fungal endophyte Epichloë sylvatica

Bioprotective Alkaloids of Grass-Fungal Endophyte Symbioses

Endophytes: exploiting biodiversity for the improvement of natural product-based drug discovery

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