ABSTRACT
Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) is a perennial grass that covers an estimated 15 million ha in the United States (Bacon et al., 1986). Tall fescue is often infected by the endophytic fungus Acremonium coenophialum (MorganJones and Gams, 1982). A. coenophialum synthesizes ergopeptide alkaloids such as ergovaline within the fescue plant. The fungus imparts to fescue many desirable attributes of the plant. Desirable attributes of endophyte-infected (El) tall fescue are its ease of establishment, wide adaptation, long grazing season, tolerance to environmental stress, and pest resistance. Evaluation of digestible dry matter, crude protein, and mineral levels of El fescue forages indicated that livestock grazed on tall fescue should exhibit good performance (Ball et al., 1991).
