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Endophyte fungus confers resistance to ryegrass: Argentine stem weevil larval studies
Author(s) -
PRESTIDGE R. A.,
GALLAGHER R. T.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
ecological entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.865
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1365-2311
pISSN - 0307-6946
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2311.1988.tb00375.x
Subject(s) - biology , endophyte , acremonium , weevil , curculionidae , larva , botany , plant use of endophytic fungi in defense , fungus
.1 Conferred insect resistance arises from a mutualistic relationship between claviciptaceous endophytic fungi and various grasses. A number of secondary compounds are responsible for the insect resistance. This paper describes studies of the relationship between the endophytic fungus Acremonium lolii Latch, Christensen & Samuels and the Argentine stem weevil Listronotus bonariensis (Kuschel) (Curculionidae); in particular, the effects on larval feeding behaviour, growth and survival. 2 Larvae are stem borers. Tunnel length and distance bored into the basal sheath zone of ryegrass was reduced when the plants were infected by A. lolii.3 Lolitrem B, a potent mammalian neurotoxin, levels were highest in A. lolii infected grasses and ranged from 2.61 to 7.08 μg/g dry wt, the higher value being recorded in summer. 4 Lolitrem B extracted from A. lolii‐infected perennial ryegrass reduced larval growth rates and survival. 5 Lolitrem B acted via the insect stomach rather than by absorption through the integument. 6 The potential role of endophytic fungi in plants is discussed briefly in relation to herbivory.