Aphid detection of endophyte infection in tall fescue

Abstract

Abstract The bird‐cherry oat aphid Rhopalosiphum padi L. avoided tall fescue ( Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) plants infected with the endophyte Acremonium coenophialum Morgan‐Jones & Gams but settled on tall fescue infected with a Phialophora ‐like endophyte and on endophyte‐free plants. The presence of either Acremonium loliae Latch, Christensen & Samuels or a Gliocladium‐like endophyte in perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L.), and of Epichloe cf. typhina (Pers.) Tul. in chewings fescue ( Festuca rubra L. sens. lat.) did not affect the feeding preferences of R. padi compared with uninfected controls. A method of using R. padi for the detection of A. coenophialum in tall fescue is suggested.