Title: Antifungal activity and phytochemical investigation of the asexual endophyte of Epichlo? sp. from Festuca sinensis

Authors: Zhou Lianyu, Zhang Xingxu, Li Chunjie*, Christensen Michael, Nan Zhibiao.

Journal: Science China Life Sciences

Impact Factor: 1.688

Abstract: Much research is now being conducted on grasses-Epichlo? associations. The asexual Epichlo? species have attracted much attention over the past 30 years as they can provide benefits to important forage grasses, in particular perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), annual ryegrass (L. multiflorum), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), and meadow fescue (F. pratense). Some findings suggest that grasses with an epichlo? endophyte (E+) are more resistant to pathogenic fungi than uninfected (E–) grass. Tests using detached and attached leaves have shown that the size of lesions caused by pathogenic fungi are smaller on E+ leaves than on E– leaves. Products inhibitory to plant pathogenic fungi are produced by Epichlo? endophytes growing saprotrophically.