Differential expression of loline alkaloids in perennial ryegrass infected with endophyte isolated from tall fescue

Abstract

Twenty half-sibling families of perennial ryegrass inoculated with a strain of endophyte isolated from tall fescue were analysed for loline concentrations. Inoculation success varied between families. Frequency of loline expression of different families varied moderately. Family effect on loline concentrations was significant. In another set of material, derived from plants exposed to field selection, endophyte infection frequency in seed harvested from plants verified as infected was close to 100%. Loline concentrations varied significantly between families. For nine of 23 families, none of the three plants sampled showed any measurable loline. As in other data sets, the results show variation in concentrations of endophyte alkaloids controlled by the genetics of the host plant. Keywords: Neotyphodium, host variation, adaptation, symbiosis, lolines