The fungal family Clavicipitaceae includes plant symbionts and parasites that produce
several psychoactive and bioprotective alkaloids. The family includes grass symbionts in the …

This study was conducted to explore fungal endophyte communities inhabiting native
switchgrass plants from the tallgrass prairie of northern Oklahoma. The primary focus was to …

The epichloae (Epichloë and Neotyphodium species), a monophyletic group of fungi in the
family Clavicipitaceae, are systemic symbionts of cool-season grasses (Poaceae subfamily …

The ergot alkaloid biosynthesis system has become an excellent model to study evolutionary
diversification of specialized (secondary) metabolites. This is a very diverse class of …

Seed dormancy and slow seedling establishment are two major concerns in switchgrass (Panicum
virgatum L.) production, often resulting in a poor stand with reduced productivity. …

Studying geographic variation of microbial mutualists, especially variation in traits related to
benefits they provide their host, is critical for understanding how these associations impact …

Tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) is a valuable and broadly adapted forage grass that
occupies approximately 14 million hectares across the United States. A native to Europe, tall …

Epichloid endophytes are well known symbionts of many cool-season grasses that may
alleviate environmental stresses for their hosts. For example, endophytes produce alkaloid …

Many Epichloë endophytes found in cool-season grasses are interspecific hybrids possessing
much or all of the genomes of two or three progenitors. Here we characterize Epichloë …

Hyphal anastomosis, or vegetative hyphal fusion, establishes the interconnection of individual
hyphal strands into an integrated network of a fungal mycelium. In contrast to recent …