Epichloë melicicola
Epichloë melicicola is a systemic and seed-transmissible endophyte of Melica dendroides (syn. Melica decumbens Thunb.) and Melica racemosa, grasses endemic to southern Africa. It was described as a Neotyphodium species in 2002[1] but transferred to the genus Epichloë in 2014.[2] The two host plant species are locally called "dronkgras" because they can cause staggers in grazing livestock.[3] Similar staggers symptoms are associated with several other grasses worldwide when they possess certain symbiotic Neotyphodium species that produce indole-diterpene alkaloids such as lolitrems.[4] Molecular phylogenetic analysis indicates that E. melicicola is an interspecific hybrid, and that its closest relatives are the teleomorphic (sexual) species, Epichloë festucae, and the anamorphic (asexual) species, Epichloë aotearoae.[1] References
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