RELATIONSHIPS AMONG NON-ACREMONIUM SP FUNGAL ENDOPHYTES IN 5 GRASS SPECIES

Many cool-season grasses (subfamily Pooideae) possess maternally trans mitted fungal symbionts which cause no known pathology and often enhan ce the ecological fitness and biochemical capabilities of the grass ho sts. The most commonly described endophytes are the Acremonium section Albo-lanosa spp. (Acremonium endophytes), which are conidial anamorph s (strictly asexual forms) of Epichloe typhina. Other endophytes which have been noted are a Gliocladium-like fungus in perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L.) and a Phialophora-like fungus in tall fescue (Festu ca arundinacea Schreb.). Here, we report the identification of additio nal non-Acremonium sp. endophytes (herein designated p-endophytes) in three more grass species: Festuca gigantea, Festuca arizonica, and Fes tuca pratensis. In each grass species, the p-endophyte was cosymbiotic with an Acremonium endophyte. Serological analysis and sequence deter minations of variable portions of their rRNA genes indicated that the two previously identified non-Acremonium endophytes are closely relate d to each other and to the newly identified p-endophytes. Therefore, t he p-endophytes represent a second group of widely distributed grass s ymbionts.