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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Protection and Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #123403
Title: NEMATODE REPRODUCTION IN TALL FESCUE INFECTED WITH DIFFERENT ENDOPHYTE STRAINS.

Author
item Timper, Patricia - Patty
item Gates, Roger
item BOUTON, J - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

Submitted to: Journal of Nematology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/10/2001
Publication Date: 12/15/2001
Citation: Timper, P., Gates, R.N., Bouton, J.H. 2001. Nematode reproduction in tall fescue infected with different endophyte strains [abstract]. Journal of Nematology. 33(4):280.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) infected with its native fungal endophyte (Neotyphodium coenophialum) is more drought tolerant and resistant to pests, including nematodes, than fescue without the endophyte. However, the native endophyte produces ergot alkaloids which are toxic to grazing animals. Recently, tall fescue cultivars have been infected with non-toxic cendophyte strains. Our objective was to determine whether fescue infected with these non-toxic strains is resistant to lesion nematodes Pratylenchus spp. In a greenhouse experiment, nematode reproduction was compared in two fescue cultivars infected with the native strain, with two non-toxic strains (AR542 and AR584), and endophyte-free fescue. The number of nematodes per root system was lower in plants infected with the native strain (24) than in plants infected with strains AR542 (118), AR584 (111), and endophyte-free plants (146). Therefore, the two nontoxic strains, unlike the native strain, do not confer resistance to lesion nematodes. Additional non-toxic strains should be tested for nematode resistance.