Variability of Ergovaline and Total Ergot Alkaloid Expression among Endophytic Tall Fescue Cultivars

Tall fescue ( Lolium arundinaceum [Schreb.] Darbysh.) is one of the most widely grown grasses in the United States. Most plants are infected with an endophyte, Epichloë coenophiala Bacon and Schardl. This endophyte produces high concentrations of ergot alkaloids, which cause fescue toxicosis in livestock. The economic losses to the US livestock industry are estimated to be approximately $1 billion annually. The objectives were to evaluate the...