Infection Rates and Alkaloid Patterns of Different Grass Species with Systemic Epichloë Endophytes

Abstract

Severe problems of livestock intoxication from Epichloë -infected forage grasses have been reported from New Zealand, Australia, and the United States, but much less frequently from Europe, and particularly not from Germany. Nevertheless, it is important to monitor infection rates and alkaloids of grasses with Epichloë fungi to estimate possible intoxication risks. Most studies focus on agricultural grass species like Lolium perenne and Festuca arundinacea , but other cool-season grass species can also be infected. We show that in Germany, infection rates and alkaloids differ between grass species and that some of the alkaloids can be toxic to livestock. Changes in grassland management due to changing climate, especially with a shift toward grasslands dominated with Epichloë -infected species such as Lolium perenne , may result in greater numbers of intoxicated livestock in the near future. We therefore suggest regular monitoring of grass species for infections and alkaloids and call for maintaining heterogenous grasslands for livestock.