ABSTRACT

The ability of Acremonium to conidiate in culture is essential for its taxonomic classification. Metabolites whose synthesis was specifically attributed to Acremonium through in vitro culture include chanoclavine I, 6,7-secoagroclavine, agroclavine, elymoclavine, penniclavine, festuclavine, ergovaline, ergovalinine, ergosterol, ergosterol peroxide, and ergosta-4,6,8-(14),22-tetraen-3-one. The endophyte itself may be transformed, then the transformed endophyte reinserted into its host plant, a procedure pioneered with Acremonium lolii, which was transformed and reinserted into its ryegrass host. The production of functional antibodies has been demonstrated in plants, and monoclonal antibodies active against various ergot alkaloids are already available, including one against the lysergic acid ring common to the ergopeptine and clavine alkaloids. The selection of low ergot-producing endophyte isolates should be coupled to the use of recurrent selection to reduce the host plants’ ability to permit high levels of ergot alkaloid synthesis by the endophyte.