A Fungal Endophyte of Tall Fescue: Evaluation of Control Methods

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Abstract
Treatment of F. arundinacea field plots with either 1 late spring foliar application of benomyl, triadimefon, thiabendazole, etaconazole or imazalil or 1 spring application of triadimefon or etaconazole did not result in control of the tall fescue fungal endophyte Epichloe typhina (also referred to as Acremonium coenophialum). Soil treatment of infected potted plants with bitertanol was partially successful. Storage at 21.degree. C, short-term heat treatments, and fungicide treatments of infected seed were effective in destroying endophyte viability in greenhouse and field tests. Endophyte viability in infected seed was lost after 7-11 mo. of storage at 21.degree. C, but not after 19 mo. of storage at temperatures < 6.degree. C. The heat treatment at 57.degree. C for 40 min or at 49.degree. C for 7 days controlled the endophyte, but 9-16% loss of seed viability occurred. Some seed treatment fungicides reduced germination and seedling vigor in the greenhouse. Certain formulated triazole fungicides were nontoxic or only slightly phytotoxic. These included a 40% dust formulation of triadimenol and a wettable powder formulation of bitertanol. Two flowable formulations of triadimenol were effective seed treatment fungicides that controlled the endophyte in a field test.

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