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Variation in Nitrogen Utilization in Acremonium coenophialum Isolates.
N H Ferguson1, J S Rice, N G Allgood
1Department of Agronomy and Soils, Clemson University, Box 340359, Clemson, South Carolina 29634-0359.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
|November 1, 1993
Summary
Fungal endophytes in tall fescue produce toxins harmful to grazing animals. Researchers found significant variation in how different endophyte isolates utilize nitrogen, offering a path to developing toxin-free tall fescue cultivars.
Area of Science:
- Plant Pathology
- Mycology
- Agronomy
Background:
- Acremonium coenophialum, a fungal endophyte in tall fescue, produces alkaloid toxins causing animal toxicosis.
- This endophyte is crucial for tall fescue survival in marginal environments.
- Understanding endophyte variability is key to developing toxicosis-free cultivars.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate nitrogen utilization differences among Acremonium coenophialum endophyte isolates.
- To identify potential targets for breeding toxin-free tall fescue.
Main Methods:
- Culturing 34 endophyte isolates from Kentucky-31 tall fescue on defined media.
- Assessing mycelial dry weight production with single nitrogen sources.
- Analyzing variations in nitrogen source utilization.
Main Results:
- Significant variation in nitrogen utilization was observed among the 34 endophyte isolates.
- Proline and potassium nitrate were the most effective nitrogen sources for mycelial growth.
- Fifty percent of isolates could not utilize two or more amino acids.
Conclusions:
- Nitrogen utilization varies considerably among tall fescue endophyte isolates.
- This variability presents an opportunity for genetic manipulation to create non-toxic tall fescue.
- Developing toxin-free tall fescue cultivars is feasible through endophyte manipulation.