| Autor: |
Shymanovich T; a Department of Biology , University of North Carolina Greensboro , 312 Eberhart Building, Greensboro , North Carolina 27412., Charlton ND; b Noble Research Institute, LLC ., 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore , Oklahoma 73401., Musso AM; c Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , University of North Carolina Greensboro , 435 Patricia A. Sullivan Science Building, Greensboro , North Carolina 27402., Scheerer J; d College of William & Mary , Williamsburg , Virginia 23187., Cech NB; c Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , University of North Carolina Greensboro , 435 Patricia A. Sullivan Science Building, Greensboro , North Carolina 27402., Faeth SH; a Department of Biology , University of North Carolina Greensboro , 312 Eberhart Building, Greensboro , North Carolina 27412., Young CA; b Noble Research Institute, LLC ., 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore , Oklahoma 73401. |
| Abstrakt: |
The endophyte presence and diversity in natural populations of Poa alsodes were evaluated along a latitudinal transect from the southern distribution range in North Carolina to New York. Two distinct Epichloë hybrid taxa were identified from 23 populations. Each taxon could easily be distinguished by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genotyping with primers designed to mating type genes and alkaloid biosynthesis genes that encode key pathway steps for ergot alkaloids, indole-diterpenes, lolines, and peramine. The most commonly found Epichloë taxon, Poa alsodes Taxonomic Group-1 (PalTG-1), was detected in 22 populations at high infection frequencies (72-100%), with the exception of one population at high elevation (26% infection). The second taxon, PalTG-2, was observed only in five populations in Pennsylvania constituting 12% of infected samples. Phylogenetic analyses placed PalTG-1 as an interspecific hybrid of E. amarillans and E. typhina subsp. poae ancestors, and it is considered a new hybrid species, which the authors name Epichloë alsodes. PalTG-2 is an intraspecific hybrid of two E. typhina subsp. poae ancestors, similar to E. schardlii from the host Cinna arundinacea, which the authors propose as a new variety, Epichloë schardlii var. pennsylvanica. Epichloë alsodes isolates were all mating type MTA MTB and tested positive for dmaW, easC, perA, and some LOL genes, but only the alkaloid N-acetylnorloline was detected in E. alsodes-infected plant material. Epichloë schardlii var. pennsylvanica isolates were all mating type MTB MTB and tested positive for perA, but peramine was not produced. Both E. alsodes and E. schardlii var. pennsylvanica appeared to have complete perA genes, but point mutations were identified in E. alsodes that would render the encoded perA gene nonfunctional. |
