Fescues, which are widely cultivated as grasses and forages around the world, are often naturally infected with the endophyte, Epichloë. This fungus, transmitted through seeds, imparts resistance to drying and herbivorous insects in its host without causing any external damage, thereby contributing to the adaptation of the host to the environment and maintaining a symbiosis. However, some endophytes, such as E. coenophialum synthesize ergovaline or lolitrem B, which accumulate in the plant and impart anti-mammalian properties. For example, when livestock consume excessive amounts of grass containing toxic endophytes, problems associated with neuromuscular abnormalities, such as convulsions, paralysis, high fever, decreased milk production, reproductive disorders, and even death, can occur. Therefore, pre-inoculation with non-toxic endogenous fungi or management with endophyte-free grass is important in preventing damage to livestock and producing high-quality forage. To date, the diagnosis of endophytes has been mainly performed by observation under a microscope following staining, or by performing an immune blot assay using a monoclonal antibody. Recently, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based molecular diagnostic method is gaining importance in the fields of agriculture, livestock, and healthcare given the method’s advantages. These include faster results, with greater accuracy and sensitivity than those obtained using conventional diagnostic methods. For the diagnosis of endophytes, the nested PCR method is the only available option developed; however, it is limited by the fact that the level of toxic alkaloid synthesis cannot be estimated. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to develop a triplex real-time PCR diagnostic method that can determine the presence or absence of endophyte infection using DNA extracted from seeds within 1 h, while simultaneously detecting easD and LtmC genes, which are related to toxic alkaloid synthesis. This new method was then also applied to real field samples.

Rapid industrialization and urbanization have generated huge amount of environmental pollution. Especially, synthetic organic chemicals have been a serious international problem for over half a century due to their toxic and hazardous chemicals. Eco-friendly strategies for removing the chemicals from the soil and water are becoming a top priority around the world and biological treatment such as phytoremediation and bioremediation is less expensive and more sustainable than other conventional remediation techniques. Recently, many pollutant diminishing microbial endophytes have been discovered from various plants grown in contaminated area and the function of microbes to improve phytoremediation of organic pollutants has been reported. Thus, we classify synthetic organic pollutants into groups of similar compounds and discuss the contribution of endophytes to enhance phytoremediation.

본 시험은 사료가치가 우수하고 엔도파이트에 감염되지 않은 톨 페스큐 신품종을 개발하기 위하여 2010년부터 2017년까지 농촌진흥청 국립축산과학원 초지사료과에서 수행되었다. 톨 페스큐 신품종 ‘그린마스터4호’는 6배체 품종으로서 잎은 녹색이며, 출수기가 5월 16일경으로서 대비품종인 ‘Fawn’ 보다 5일 늦은 중생품종이고, 출수기에 초장은 74.6cm 정도이다. 지역적응시험 4개 지역평균 건물수량은 ‘그린마스터4호’가 16.2톤/ha로서 대비품종인 ‘Fawn’보다 5% 많았으며, 지역별 생산성이 4개 지역 모두에서 ‘Fawn’보다 우수하였다. ‘그린마스터4호’의 사료가치는 조단백질(CP) 함량이 15.2%, 건물소화율(IVDMD)이 70.0%, 가소화양분총량(TDN)이 63.6%, 중성세제불용섬유(NDF)가 58.7%, 산성세제불용섬유(ADF)는 32.0%로서 Fawn보다 높거나 대등하였다. ‘그린마스터4호’는 엔도파이트에 감염되지 않는 품종이면서 ‘Fawn’보다 국내 기후환경 적응성과 영속성이 우수하여 초지조성에 알맞은 품종으로서 우리나라 전국에서 재배 가능하다.

It has been known that endophyte (Neotyphodium coenophialum) is beneficial to tall fescue (Schedonorus phoenix Scop.) because the mutualistic endophyte is able to confers tolerance against abiotic and biotic stresses to tall fescue. However, this fungal endophyte produces toxic alkaloid resulting in negative effects on animal performance. Recently, Non-toxic endophyte have been developed and inserted into tall fescue to avoid detrimental effect on animal but remaining positive influence on tall fescue. In order to keep this beneficial impact, it is essential to have endophyte infected tall fescue through vertical transmission from maternal plants to seeds. Little research has been carried out on endophyte transmission. To get basic information related to endophyte transmission, experiment was conducted to examine the effect of plant genotype on endophyte transmission under water stresses. Overall endophyte concentration in seeds was higher than that in panicles and endophyte concentration in seeds and panicles relied on plant. This study revealed that drought is not a critical component to control the endophyte transmission from maternal plants to seeds. Plant genotype is an important factor controlling the endophyte transmission from plant to seed.

본 연구는 기호성이 높으며 여름철 고온에 강한 새로운 tall fescue 품종을 구명하기 위해 초지조성 후 5년째인 1997년 방목기간 동안에 북제주군 한림읍 이시돌 목장에서 홀스타인 육성우(방목개시시 체중 110kg 내외)를 이용하여 구당 250(50mx50m)의 면적에서 2처리(T1 = Fawn tall fescue + orchardgrass + perennial ryegrass + white clover, T2 = Roa tall fescue )

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of the mixed rates of endophyte-he and -infected seed on the endophyte fkquency, dry matter yield and forage quality of tall fescue(Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) at the Experimental Field of Grassla

This experiment was canied out to investigate the effect of pasture types(mixture and mono tall fescue pasture) and endophyte infection on the dry matter yield, forage quality and animal performance of pasture plants at the Experimental Field of Grassland

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of pasture types(mixture and mono tall fescue pasture) and endophyte infection on the animal behavior of Korean native cattle at the Experimental Field of Grassland and Forage Crops Division, Natio

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of endophyte staWendophyte-free and -infect) and cutting frequency(3, 4, 5 and 6 timeslyear) on the forage quality of tall fescue(Festuca crnrtzdit~crcerr Schreb.) at the Experimental Field of Gra

This experiment was canied out to investigate the effects of endophyte status(end0phyte-free and -infect) and cutting frequency(3, 4, 5 and 6 timeslyear) on the agronomic characteristics, DM yield and weed development of tall fescue(Festuca arundinacea Sc

In order to improve high persistence and forage quality, through selection of various superior parental varieties for breeding and synthesis of them with new lines, there are ongoing worldwide studies aiming to enhance the quality of tall fescue through a traditional breeding method by selection and hybridization. A new tall fescue variety (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), named Greenmaster3ho, was developed by the National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration in Korea from 2010 to 2014. For synthetic seed production of this new variety, five superior clones, 09XFa02, 09XFa03, 09XFa11, 09XFa13, and 09XFa14 were selected and polycrossed. The agronomic growth characteristics and forage production capability of the seeds were studied at Cheonan from 2010, and regional trials were conducted in Cheonan, Hoengseong, Jeju, and Jinju from 2012 to 2014. Greenmaster3ho showed enhanced disease resistance, persistence, and regrowth ability as compared to Fawn. The dry matter yield of Greenmaster 2 was 29% higher (15,119 kg/ha) than that of Fawn. However, the nutritive value of both varieties was similar. This study developed a new tall fescue variety with excellent environmental adaptability, aiming to make a contribution to the vitalization of the Korean grassland industry.