What is endophyte grass seed?

What is endophyte grass seed?

Endophytes, as they pertain to turfgrass, are intercellular fungi that form mutualistic relationships with many turf species. Turf species that commonly benefit from endophytes are perennial ryegrass, tall fescue and fine fescue.

What grasses have endophytes?

Endophytes occur in perennial ryegrass, turf-type tall fescue, Chewings fescue, hard fescue and creeping red fescue. Efforts to produce endophyte-enhanced Kentucky bluegrass and creeping bentgrass have not been successful to date.

Does Kentucky bluegrass have endophyte?

Despite attempts to incorporate endophytic fungi into Kentucky bluegrass and bentgrasses, these high quality grasses are still endophyte free. In order to maintain the viability of the endophyte, seeds must be stored at cool temperatures (approx. 40°F) and under dry conditions.

Are endophytes harmful?

However, not all endophytes are bad. Research has identified endophyte strains that benefit the plant without being harmful to livestock. These endophytes are known as novel, selected, or livestock friendly. Grazing grass or feeding products from these endophyte-infected plants does not adversely affect livestock.

What is endophyte-infected fescue?

“endophyte” means internal fungus; it grows inside fescue plants. soon thereafter it was learned that this endophyte can produce toxins (specifically, ergot alkaloids) that can have profound negative effects on grazing animals. however, the endophyte has positive effects on the grass itself.

What is endophyte free?

Hyphae of the fungal endophyte grow between the cells (green) of the tall fescue plant. When building a novel endophyte-infected tall fescue, the toxic endophyte (red lines) is removed from the tall fescue plant to create an endophyte-free plant.

Is creeping red fescue endophyte-free?

The endophyte-infected plants are thus the same plant genotype as the endophyte-free plant infected with two different isolates of E. festucae. Although strong creeping red fescue and chewings fescue are subspecies of F. rubra, they do not naturally hybridize (Ruemmele et al., 2003).

What is endophyte-free fescue?

Endophyte-free tall fescue varieties do not contain the fungal endophyte making them non-toxic, but this compromises the plant survival characteristics of wild-type endoph. yte infected tall fescue.

What is endophyte-free?

How do you get rid of endophyte fescue?

Tall fescue infected with this toxic endophyte is persistent in pastures and eradicating or renovating these pastures requires planning and time. The strategy recommended for eradication of infected tall fescue is termed spray-smother-spray and is most effective when employed over a period of about one year.

Is creeping red fescue endophyte free?

What does endophyte do to horses?

Endophyte induces toxicity in horses. Fescue infected with the endophyte Neotyphodium coenophialum produces chemicals toxic to horses. Infected pasture and hay is toxic for horses to eat. The toxic chemicals in the stems and leaf sheaths tend to peak in late June and decline as the seeds develop.