Taking endophytes from discovery to on-farm use

Discovery

• Identify and classify endophyte strains
• How strains relate to one another
• Obtain an understanding of chemical compounds present and relativity to standards in industry.

Chromatograms (HPLC) for lolitrems and epoxy-janthitrems in endophyte infected herbage

Dendogram of genetic relationship of endophytes of fescues and perennial ryegrass

Cross section through a perennial ryegrass tiller infected with a N. lolii strain genetically modified to express a green florescent protein. The endophyte strands, cut at right angles, appear as green dots. In this tiller few hyphae are present in the developing leaf blade. The red colour comes from chlorophyll.

..........................................................................................................................................

Commercialisation

• Products - AR1, Endo5, AR37, MaxP®, MaxQ®
• Technology patented or PVR
• Technology available in the following countries
  - New Zealand
  - Australia
  - USA
  - Chile

..........................................................................................................................................

Development

• Screen endophyte strains for tolerance/resistance of major temperate forage insect pests agronomoically
• Evaluate in range of environments and management
• Tested for animal performance and safety

ARI RYEGRASS ENDOPHYTE

How endophyte benefits lamb production
Grow rates (g/day) of lambs grazing different endophyte treatments

(Source: Lester Fletcher, 2004. Managing ryegrass/endophyte toxicoses. Proceedings of the 5th International Grass/Endophyte Interactions Symposium. In press)

How AR1 endophyte benefits dairy production, compared with wild-type endophyte.
Seasonal milksolids production (kg/cow) over three seasons under rotational grazing of AR1 and wild-type endophyte pasture in the Waikato.

(source: S.J. Bluett et al., 2003. Milksolids production from cows grazing perennial ryegrass containing AR1 or wild endophyte. Proceedings of the NZ Grassland Association 65: 83-90.)

Max Q® TALL FESCUE ENDOPHYTE

2-year test result:                                                 Max Q®	KY31
average finish weight average starting weight
average weight gain                       191 lb	89 lb
2-year return per acre                    US $328.10	US $153.37
At an initial establishment cost for MaxQ® of US$80 per acre (@ 20 lb per acre seeding rate), the additional profit from grazing MaxQ® is US$94.73 per acre.

Ryegrass with AR1	Tall fescue with Max P	Ryegrass with AR6
	Green plots AR1 Bare plots Nil endophyte

 ..........................................................................................................................................

Licensing Novel Endophytes

• STEP ONE (INOCULATE)
• Seed company's proprietary cultivar inoculated by Grasslanz®
• Alkaloid profile of inoculated seedlings verified
• Seed transmission of endophyte verified

• STEP TWO (TEST)
• Agronomic testing by the seed company
• Animal safety test by Grasslanz®

• STEP THREE (LICENCE)
• Licence issued for a Novel Endophytic Cultivar to the seed company

..........................................................................................................................................

Production

• SEED PRODUCTION PROTOCOLS
• Sowing
• Management/fungicides
• Post-harvest management

• STORAGE/TRANSPORTATION

• QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEM
• Genetic integrity of endophytes

..........................................................................................................................................

Current Funding Contributors
For Endophyte R & D

FRST, Beef and Lamb NZ, Grasslanz Technology, Agricom, PGG Wrightson Seeds, AgResearch, DairyNZ