Grasslanz Technology Limited

New Zealand Pastoral Agriculture Research Institute Limited

Michael John Christensen

Brian Anthony Tapper

Herrick Sydney Easton

Lester Ronald Fletcher

David Edward Hume

Geoffrey Alexander Lane

Garrick Cecil Morland Latch

Christopher Gerald Lee Pennell

Bruce Matheson Cooper

Alison Jean Popay

Garrick Cecil Latch

Lison Jean Popay

An endophyte or endophyte culture ofspecies is described that, in combination with a host grass does not cause typical symptoms of ryegrass toxicosis in grazing animals and also contains levels of compounds from the class of janthitrems epoxides to individually or in combination protect the host grass from pests or abiotic stresses or both. Uses and methods are also described to produce and characterize the combination as well as alternative uses for compounds from the class of janthitrem epoxide compounds.

Grass endophytes

An endophyte or endophyte culture ofspecies is described that, in combination with a host grass does not cause typical symptoms of ryegrass toxicosis in grazing animals and also contains levels of compounds from the class of janthitrems epoxides to individually or in combination protect the host grass from pests or abiotic stresses or both. Uses and methods are also described to produce and characterise the combination as well as alternative uses for compounds from the class of janthitrem epoxide compounds.

The present invention relates to a combination of aspecies endophyte or endophyte culture in a symbiotic association with a host grass which association does not cause symptoms of toxicosis in animals through exclusion of ergovaline but, due to the inclusion of alkaloids including agroclavine, setoclavine or isosetoclavine, retains the ability to resist abiotic stresses and protect the grass from pests.

Selected endophytes of the genus Neotyphodium (formerly Acremonium) form stable synthetic combinations with tall fescue hosts (Festuca arundinacea). The combinations have improved resistance to invertebrate pests as compared to tall fescue cultivars not containing such endophytes. The particular combinations of the invention have reduced toxicity to livestock as compared to naturally occurring endophyte/tall fescue combinations. The seven preferred endophytes are AR501, AR502, AR510, AR542, AR572, AR577 and AR584.

Tall fescue endophytes

Selected endophytes of the genus Neotyphodium (formerly Acremonium) form stable synthetic combinations with ryegrass hosts (preferably Lolium perenne). The combinations have improved resistance to invertebrate pests and drought effects as compared to ryegrass cultivars not containing such endophytes. The particular combinations of the invention have reduced toxicity to livestock as compared to naturally occurring endophyte/ryegrass combinations. The six preferred endophytes are AR1, AR12, AR22, AR50, AR52 and AR56.

Growing community of inventors

Palmerston North, New Zealand

Michael John Christensen