Cross Species Inoculation of Chewings and Strong Creeping Red Fescues with Fungal Endophytes

An effective technique was developed to inoculate mature Chewings fescue [Festuca rubra L. subsp. fallax (Thuill) Nyman] and strong creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra L. subsp. rubra) tillers with fungal endophytes (Epichloe festucae Leuchtm., Schardl, & Siegel and Neotyphodium spp.). Six fine fescue genotypes were successfully inoculated with endophytes originating from fine fescues and Poa ampla Merr. Eleven percent of the tillers were successfully inoculated, and all inoculated plants transmitted the endophytes to their offspring. This set of inoculated plants, with various combinations of genotypes and endophyte strains, allowed us to compare the effects of different endophytes on one host, and one endophyte on several hosts. When evaluated in the field, the growth characteristics of these plants were dependent on endophyte and host genotype. Considerable interaction between the genotypes was seen. For example, one host inoculated with the Poa ampla endophyte showed enhanced performance, while another host inoculated with the same endophyte performed poorly.