Aphid detection of endophyte infection in tall fescue

Abstract

The bird-cherry oat aphid Rhopalosiphum padi L. avoided tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) plants infected with the endophyte Acremonium coenophialum Morgan-Jones & Gams but settled on tall fescue infected with a Phialophora-like endophyte and on endophyte-free plants. The presence of either Acremonium loliae Latch, Christensen & Samuels or a Gliocladium-like endophyte in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), and of Epichloe cf. typhina (Pers.) Tul. in chewings fescue (Festuca rubra L. sens. lat.) did not affect the feeding preferences of R. padi compared with uninfected controls. A method of using R. padi for the detection of A. coenophialum in tall fescue is suggested.

Keywords:

• tall fescue
• perennial ryegrass
• chewings fescue
• aphids
• Rhopalosiphum padi
• Metopholophium dirhodum
• Sitobion fragariae, endophytes
• Acremonium coenophialum
• Phialophora-like sp.
• Gliocladium-like sp.
• Acremonium loliae
• Ephichloe cf. typhina