Date of Graduation
2003
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MS
Committee Chair
Daniel G. Panaccione
Abstract
Neotyphodium spp. are members of the fungal family Clavicipitaceae that grow endophytically within several important forage grasses, imparting benefits to the host grass. Several species produce toxic ergopeptines that are thought to adversely affect mammalian health. Inclusion of 1% agar in endophyte-infected seed diets was found to ameliorate some of the consequences of feeding endophyte-infected seeds to mice. Based upon feeding preferences of rabbits and mice, it seems that ergot alkaloids are not critical factors for deterring feeding on endophyte-infected plants by these animals, but the presence of the fungus appeared to deter rabbits. Intron-containing fragments of lysergyl peptide synthetase gene, lpsA, responsible for ergopeptine biosynthesis, were cloned from 10 isolates of fungi in the Clavicipitaceae representing five different ergopeptine-producing species of fungi. The presence of two divergent lpsA genes was detected in N. coenophialum. Claviceps purpurea contained a family of lpsA genes.
Recommended Citation
Sedlock, Andrea B., "Ergot alkaloids and herbivory in model animals, and, Variation in an ergot alkaloid biosynthesis gene." (2003). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD). 10781.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/10781