Compounds produced by a beneficial fungus could create grasses that
are safe for animals to eat but deadly for insect pests, U.S.
researchers say.
Purdue University scientists say a fungus called Neotyphodium,
classified as an endophyte, feeds off many species of grasses while
providing the grass with protection from insects, but can be toxic to
animals based on the types of alkaloids it produces.
Scientists have succeeded in eliminating the alkaloid profiles that
caused toxicity in livestock, but in making the grasses safe as feed for
animals, their susceptibility to insects came into question, a Purdue
release said Tuesday.
Working with researchers in New Zealand, Douglas Richmond, Purdue
professor of entomology, identified strains two of the fungus producing
compounds that protected the grasses while not endangering animals
grazing on them or being fed them by farmers.
Grasses naturally infected with the desired endophyte strains can be propagated for commercial production, Richmond said.
"Both are relatively safe for mammals and other grazing wildlife," he
said. "Now the seed industry can put these endophytes into turf and
pasture grasses and not worry about potential non-target effects.
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