A. Leuchtmann et al., Different levels of protective alkaloids in grasses with stroma-forming and seed-transmitted Epichloe/Neotyphodium endophytes, J CHEM ECOL, 26(4), 2000, pp. 1025-1036
The three alkaloid groups-lolines, ergopeptides, and peramine-are typically
associated with endophyte infection of grasses, with the main function to
protect hosts against herbivores. We determined levels of N-formylloline, N
-acetylloline, ergovaline, and peramine in 18 European grasses naturally in
fected with seed-transmitted Neotyphodium endophytes or sexual Epichloe spe
cies. Peramine was the most common alkaloid, whereas lolines and ergovaline
were only detected in Festuca hosts infected with E. festucae, N. coenophi
alum, or N. uncinatum. Only ten of the grass species analyzed contained det
ectable amounts of one or more of these alkaloids. There was a clear tenden
cy for plants associated with stroma-forming Epichloe species to be free of
alkaloids, and those that did produce alkaloids contained only small level
s of peramine. In contrast, plants infected with seed-transmitted Neotyphod
ium endophytes often contained extremely high levels of lolines. Lolines en
hance host survival through increased protection from herbivores and, thus,
may be particularly favored in asexual endophytes that depend on host seed
-production for their dispersal.