Detection and localization of the endophyteUndifilum oxytropisin locoweed tissues

Abstract

Poisoning of livestock owing to grazing on locoweeds results in significant economic losses in the western United States. Some Oxytropis spp. locoweeds contain a seed-transmitted endophytic fungus, Undifilum oxytropis, which produces the toxic alkaloid swainsonine. We sought to localize and characterize growth patterns of the fungus within leaves and petioles of Oxytropis lambertii Pursh and Oxytropis sericea Nutt. to help define the types of interactions between the fungus and its hosts. Vegetative hyphae were observed within locoweed tissues using integrated imaging. Topographical images from scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of the endophyte in the pith tissue of petioles. The fungus was identified between plant cells but did not appear to penetrate host cells. Transmission electron microscopy images of thin sections revealed that hyphae were closely associated with host cell walls. Oxytropis sericea was innoculated with green fluorescent protein-transformed U. oxytropis and observed by confocal microscopy, confirming the presence of the endophyte hyphae in leaves and petioles. The fungus was identified only in the pith of petioles using fluorescence and in the vascular bundle throughout extracellular spaces in leaves. These results revealed no signs of a pathogenic interaction between plant and fungus and support the hypothesis of a mutualistic or commensal relationship.