Abstract
Infection of ryegrass (Lolium perenne) by an endophytic fungus (Acremonium loliae) confers resistance against the Argentine stem weevil (Listronotus bonariensis). Extracts from ryegrass clones, infected and uninfected withA. loliae, were compared in a feeding choice bioassay, and several fractions were identified which affected stem weevil feeding behavior. One stem weevil feeding deterrent, peramine C12H17N5O, has been isolated from infected ryegrass and partially characterized as a basic indole derivative. Extracts from culturedA. loliae had no effect on stem weevil feeding behavior nor was peramine detected in the fungal cultures examined. Peramine and the other active substances are hydrophilic in contrast to the lipophilic properties reported for the neurotoxic lolitrems also isolated from ryegrass infected withA. loliae and associated with causing ryegrass staggers disorder in livestock. It is suggested that ryegrass staggers and stem weevil feeding deterrency may arise by different biochemical mechanisms.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barker, G.M., Pottinger, R.P., andAddison, P.J. 1983. Effect of tall fescue and ryegrass endophytes on argentine stem weevil.Proc. 36th N.Z. Weed Pest Control Conf. 36:216–219.
Cunningham, I.J., andHartley, W.J. 1959. Ryegrass staggers.N.Z. Vet. J. 7:1–7.
de Jesus, A.E., Steyn, P.S., van Heerden, F.R., Vleggaar, R., Wessels, P.L., andHull, W.E. 1983. Tremorgenic mycotoxins fromPenicillium crustosum: Isolation of penitrems A-F and the structure elucidation and absolute configuration of penitrem A.J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. 1:1847–1856.
Fletcher, L.R. 1983. Effects of presence ofLolium endophyte on growth rates of weaned lambs, growing on to hoggets, on various ryegrasses.Proc. N.Z. Grass. Assoc. 44:237–239.
Fletcher, L.R., andBarrell, G.K. 1984. Reduced liveweight gains and serum prolactin levels in hoggets grazing ryegrasses containingLolium endophyte.N.Z. Vet. J. 32:139–140.
Fletcher, L.R., andHarvey, I.C. 1981. An association of a Lolium endophyte with ryegrass staggers.N.Z. Vet. J. 29:185–186.
Funk, C.R., Halisky, P.M., Johnson, M.C., Siegel, M.R., Stewart, A.V., Ahmad, S., Hurley, R.H., andHarvey, I.C. 1983a. An endophytic fungus and resistance to sod webworms: association inLolium perenne L.Bio/technology 1:189–191.
Funk, C.R., Timpo, E.E., Govindarajan, S., andHalisky, P.M. 1983b. Implications of endophyte-modified performance in grass breeding. 47th Annual Report of Forage Research in Northeastern United States, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, 47:3.
Gallagher, R.T., Keogh, R.G., Latch, G.C.M., andReid, C.W.W. 1977. The role of fungal tremorgens in ryegrass staggers.N.Z. J. Agric. Res. 20:431–440.
Gallagher, R.T., White, E.P., andMortimer, P.H. 1981. Ryegrass staggers: Isolation of potent neurotoxins lolitrem A and lolitrem B from staggers producing pastures.N.Z. Vet. J. 29:189–190.
Gallagher, R.T., Campbell, A.G., Hawkes, A.D., Holland, P.T., McGaveston, D.A., Pansier, E.A., andHarvey, I.C. 1982. Ryegrass staggers: The presence of lolitrem neurotoxins in ryegrass seed.N.Z. Vet. J. 30:183–184.
Gallagher, R.T., Hawkes, A.D., Steyn, P.S., andVleggaar, R. 1984. Tremorgenic neurotoxins from perennial ryegrass causing ryegrass staggers disorder of livestock: Structure elucidation of lolitrem B.J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun. 1984:614–616.
Gallagher, R.T., Hawkes, A.D., andStewart, J.M. 1985. Rapid determination of the neurotoxin lolitrem B in perennial ryegrass by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.J. Chromatogr. 321:217–226.
Gaynor, D.L., andHunt, W.F. 1983. The relationship between nitrogen supply, endophytic fungus, and Argentine stem weevil resistance in ryegrasses.Proc. N.Z. Grass. Assoc. 44:257–263.
Gaynor, D.L., Rowan, D.D., Latch, G.C.M., andPilkington, S. 1983. Preliminary results on the biochemical relationship between adult Argentine stem weevil and two endophytes in ryegrasses.Proc. 36th N.Z. Weed Pest Control Conf. 36:220–224.
Johnson, T. (ed.) 1983. Proceedings of Tall Fescue Toxicosis Workshop. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Georgia College of Agriculture, Athens, Georgia, pp. 1–26.
Kain, W.M., Slay, M.W., andWyeth, T.K. 1982a. Identification, occurrence and development of Argentine stem weevil (Hyperodes bonariensis Kuschel) resistance in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), pp. 265–271,in K.E. Lee (ed.). Proceedings of the 3rd Australasian Conference on Grassland Invertebrate Ecology. S.A. Government Printer, Adelaide.
Kain, W.M., Wyeth, T.K., Gaynor, D.L., andSlay, M.W. 1982b. Argentine stem weevil (Hyperodes bonariensis Kuschel) resistance in perennial and hybrid ryegrasses. 1. Field resistance in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.).N.Z. J. Agric. Res. 25:255–259.
Latch, G.C.M., andChristensen, M.J. 1982. Ryegrass endophyte, incidence, and control.N.Z. J. Agric. Res. 25:443–448.
Latch, G.C.M., Christensen, M.J., andSamuels, G.J. 1984. Five endophytes ofLolium andFestuca in New Zealand.Mycotaxon 20:535–550.
Latch, G.C.M., Christensen, M.J., andGaynor, D.L. 1985. Aphid detection of endophyte infection in tall fescue.N.Z. J. Agric. Res. 28:129–132.
Morgan-Jones, G., andGams, W. 1982. An endophyte ofFestuca arundinacea and the anamorph ofEpichloe typhina, new taxa in one of the two new sections ofAcremonium.Mycotaxon 15:311–318.
Musgrave, D.R. 1984. Detection of an endophytic fungus ofLolium perenne using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).N.Z. J. Agric. Res. 27:283–288.
Prestidge, R.A., Pottinger, R.P., andBarker, G.M. 1982. An association ofLolium endophyte with ryegrass resistance to Argentine stem weevil.Proc. 35th N.Z. Weed Pest Control Conf. 35:119–122.
Siegel, S. 1956. Nonparametric Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences. McGraw-Hill, New York.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rowan, D.D., Gaynor, D.L. Isolation of feeding deterrents against argentine stem weevil from ryegrass infected with the endophyteAcremonium loliae . J Chem Ecol 12, 647–658 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01012099
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01012099