Epichloë melicicola

Epichloë melicicola
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Sordariomycetes
Order: Hypocreales
Family: Clavicipitaceae
Genus: Epichloë
Species:
E. melicicola
Binomial name
Epichloë melicicola
(C.D.Moon & Schardl) Schardl
Synonyms
  • Neotyphodium melicicola C.D.Moon & Schardl

Epichloë melicicola is a systemic and seed-transmissible endophyte of Melica dendroides (syn. Melica decumbens Thunb.) and Melica racemosa, grasses endemic to southern Africa. It was described as a Neotyphodium species in 2002[1] but transferred to the genus Epichloë in 2014.[2]

The two host plant species are locally called "dronkgras" because they can cause staggers in grazing livestock.[3] Similar staggers symptoms are associated with several other grasses worldwide when they possess certain symbiotic Neotyphodium species that produce indole-diterpene alkaloids such as lolitrems.[4]

Molecular phylogenetic analysis indicates that E. melicicola is an interspecific hybrid, and that its closest relatives are the teleomorphic (sexual) species, Epichloë festucae, and the anamorphic (asexual) species, Epichloë aotearoae.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Moon CD, Miles CO, Jarlfors U, Schardl CL (2002). "The evolutionary origins of three new Neotyphodium endophyte species from grasses indigenous to the Southern Hemisphere". Mycologia. 94 (4). Mycological Society of America: 694–711. doi:10.2307/3761720. JSTOR 3761720. PMID 21156542.
  2. ^ Leuchtmann, A.; Bacon, C. W.; Schardl, C. L.; White, J. F.; Tadych, M. (2014). "Nomenclatural realignment of Neotyphodium species with genus Epichloë" (PDF). Mycologia. 106 (2): 202–215. doi:10.3852/13-251. ISSN 0027-5514. PMID 24459125. S2CID 25222557. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2016-02-28.
  3. ^ Gibbs-Russell GE, Ellis RP (1982). "The genus Melica L. (Poaceae) in Southern Africa". Bothalia. 14 (1): 37–44. doi:10.4102/abc.v14i1.1133.
  4. ^ Gallagher RT, Hawkes AD, Steyn PS, Vleggaar R (1984). "Tremorgenic neurotoxins from perennial ryegrass causing ryegrass staggers disorder of livestock: structure elucidation of lolitrem B". Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications. 1984 (9): 614–616. doi:10.1039/c39840000614.


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