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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Logan, Utah » Poisonous Plant Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #401363
Research Project: Understanding and Mitigating the Adverse Effects of Poisonous Plants on Livestock Production Systems

Location: Poisonous Plant Research

Title: Identification and distribution of a fungal endosymbiotic Alternaria species (Alternaria section Undifilum sp.) in Astragalus garbancillo tissues

Author
item PISTAN, MARIA - Universidad National Del Nordeste
item Cook, Daniel
item GUTIERREZ, SUSANA - Universidad National Del Nordeste
item SCHNITTGER, LEONHARD - Consejo Nacional De Investigaciones Científicas Y Técnicas(CONICET)
item Gardner, Dale
item CHOLICH, LUCIANA - Consejo Nacional De Investigaciones Científicas Y Técnicas(CONICET)
item GONZALEZ, ANA - Consejo Nacional De Investigaciones Científicas Y Técnicas(CONICET)

Submitted to: Mycologia
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/20/2023
Publication Date: 1/31/2024
Citation: Pistan, M.E., Cook, D., Gutierrez, S.A., Schnittger, L., Gardner, D.R., Cholich, L.A., Gonzalez, A.M. 2024. Identification and distribution of a fungal endosymbiotic Alternaria species (Alternaria section Undifilum sp.) in Astragalus garbancillo tissues. Mycologia. 116(2):291-298. https://doi.org/10.1080/00275514.2023.2299191.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00275514.2023.2299191

Interpretive Summary: Plants belonging to the genera Astragalus, Oxytropis, Ipomoea, Sida, and Swainsona often contain the toxin swainsonine (SW), which causes a neurological disorder in livestock. It has been demonstrated that SW is produced by a symbiont fungus associated with these plants. In this study, the localization and distribution of the symbiont fungus in different organs of A. garbancillo was investigated using imaging techniqques. We confirm that the endosymbiont fungus of A. garbacillo belongs to the genera Alternaria section Undifilum by PCR. SW could be detected in different tissues. The mycelium was located in the pith and cortex of petioles and stems, on the external surface and inside the pericarp of the fruit and in the mesotesta, and endotesta of the seed coat. Our observations verified that the SW-producing fungus in A. garbancillo is transmitted vertically in this host plant.

Technical Abstract: Plants belonging to the genera Astragalus, Oxytropis, Ipomoea, Sida, and Swainsona often contain the toxin swainsonine (SW), which causes a neurological disorder in livestock. It has been demonstrated that SW is produced by a symbiont fungus associated with these plants. In this study, the localization and distribution of the symbiont fungus in different organs of A. garbancillo was investigated using imaging techniqques. We confirm that the endosymbiont fungus of A. garbacillo belongs to the genera Alternaria section Undifilum by PCR. SW could be detected in different tissues. The mycelium was located in the pith and cortex of petioles and stems, on the external surface and inside the pericarp of the fruit and in the mesotesta, and endotesta of the seed coat. Our observations verified that the SW-producing fungus in A. garbancillo is transmitted vertically in this host plant.