Influence ofAcremoniumendophytes on perennial grass improvement

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Abstract
Acremonium endophytes affect their host grasses in various ways. Many of these effects are desirable such as protecting grasses from attack by some insects, nematodes, and plant diseases. Endophytes also make their hosts more tolerant of drought and some plants have enhanced growth and tillering. However, there are aspects of endophytes which are undesirable in that infected grasses can produce alkaloids which, when present at sufficiently high levels, affect the health and production of grazing animals. Thus the benefit of having endophytes in Australasian pastures is debatable. This paper reviews current knowledge on endophytes and concludes that infecting grasses with strains of endophytes which do not produce the alkaloids harmful to animals may overcome the undesirable aspects of endophytes.