Different levels of protective alkaloids in grasses with stroma-forming and seed-transmitted Epichloe/Neotyphodium endophytes

Citation
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
Citations number
41
Categorie Soggetti
Environment/Ecology
Journal title
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ECOLOGY
ISSN journal
00980331 → ACNP
Volume
26
Issue
4
Year of publication
2000
Pages
1025 - 1036
Database
ISI
SICI code
0098-0331(200004)26:4<1025:DLOPAI>2.0.ZU;2-E
Abstract
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.