A new group of endophytes in European grasses

Poaceae of subfamily Festucoideae frequently harbour endophytic, symbiotic fungi in their aerial parts. Isolations were made from 21 different species of Poaceae, belonging mainly to the genera Lolium and Festuca. Pure cultures of 45 fungal isolates were obtained. Morphology, isozyme and molecular analysis showed the presence of three groups of endophytes. Most of the isolates could be accommodated with the previously described species of Neotyphodium and Epichloë (the e endophytes). Two new endophytes isolated from Koeleria cristata and Melica ciliata were shown to belong to this group. Gliocladium like and Phialophora like isolates were obtained from Lolium perenne and Festuca gigantea respectively (the p endophytes). Nine isolates especially those from annual Lolium produced rod like conidia. These isolates belong to Acremonium sensu stricto and are morphologically similar to Acremonium chilense.