Non-toxic endophytes, plants injected therewith and methods for injecting plants

Abstract

A grass with improved environmental stress tolerance and low animal toxicity is disclosed where the grass is infected with an isolated endophyte selected from the groups consisting of USDA-PI no. 269850, Ijoukak, Morocco 92060, Ouarzazate, Morocco KBG 5938, Oujda, Morocco KBG 5892, El-Kelaa-des-Mgouna, Morocco KBG 5914, Boumalne-de-Dades, Morocco KBG 5921, USDA-PI no. 516560, mixtures and combinations thereof. A method for stably infecting the grasses is also disclosed.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An endophyte infected plant comprising an endophyte-free plant selected from a group consisting of the genera Agropyron, Agrostis, Andropogon, Anthoxanthum, Arrhenatherum, Avena, Brachypodium, Bromus, Chloris, Cynodon, Dactylis, Elymus, Eragrostis, Elytrigia, Festuca, Glyceria, Hierochloe, Hordeum, Leymus, Lolium, Oryza, Panicum, Paspalum, Phalaris, Phleum, Poa, Secale, Setaria, Sorghum, Stipa, Triticum, Zea, Zoysia and their hybrids stably infected with a Neotyphodium endophyte selected from the group consisting of USDA-PI no. 269850, Ijoukak, Morocco 92060, Ouarzazate, Morocco KBG 5938, Oujda, Morocco KBG 5892, El-Kelaa-des-Mgouna, Morocco KBG 5914, Boumalne-de-Dades, Morocco KBG 5921, USDA-PI no.516560, mixtures and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         2 . The plant of  claim 1 , wherein the endophyte imparts to the plant enhanced tolerance to environmental stresses and the infected grass is substantially non-toxic to animals that feed on the plant.  
     
     
         3 . The plant of  claim 1 , wherein the endophyte is selected from the group consisting of Ijoukak, Morocco 92060, Oujda, Morocco KBG 5892, El-Kelaa-des-Mgouna, Morocco KBG 5914, Boumalne-de-Dades, Morocco KBG 5921, USDA-PI no. 516560, mixtures and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The plant of  claim 1 , wherein the endophyte comprises Ijoukak, Morocco 92060.  
     
     
         5 . The plant of  claim 1 , wherein the endophyte comprises Oujda, Morocco KBG 5892.  
     
     
         6 . The plant of  claim 1 , wherein the endophyte comprises El-Kelaa-des-Mgouna, Morocco KBG 5914, Boumalne-de-Dades, Morocco KBG 5921, USDA-PI no. 516560, mixtures and combinations thereof  
     
     
         7 . The plant of  claim 1 , wherein the endophyte comprises El-Kelaa-des-Mgouna, Morocco KBG 5914.  
     
     
         8 . The plant of  claim 1 , wherein the endophyte comprises Boumalne-de-Dades, Morocco KBG 5921.  
     
     
         9 . The plant of  claim 1 , wherein the endophyte comprises USDA-PI no. 516560.  
     
     
         10 . The plant of  claim 1 , wherein the plant are selected from the group consisting of genuses of Festuca, Lolium and their hybrids.  
     
     
         11 . An endophyte infected grass comprising an endophyte-free grass selected from the group consisting of genuses of Festuca, Lolium and their hybrids stably infected with an endophyte selected from the group consisting of USDA-PI no. 269850, Ijoukak, Morocco 92060, Ouarzazate, Morocco KBG 5938, Oujda, Morocco KBG 5892, El-Kelaa-des-Mgouna, Morocco KBG 5914, Boumalne-de-Dades, Morocco KBG 5921, USDA-PI no. 516560, mixtures and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The grass of  claim 1 , wherein the endophyte imparts to the grass enhanced tolerance to environmental stresses and the infected grass is substantially non-toxic to animals that feed on the grass.  
     
     
         13 . The grass of  claim 1 , wherein the endophyte is selected from the group consisting of Ijoukak, Morocco 92060, Oujda, Morocco KBG 5892, El-Kelaa-des-Mgouna, Morocco KBG 5914, Boumalne-de-Dades, Morocco KBG 5921, USDA-PI no. 516560, mixtures and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The grass of  claim 1 , wherein the endophyte comprises Ijoukak, Morocco 92060.  
     
     
         15 . The grass of  claim 1 , wherein the endophyte comprises Oujda, Morocco KBG 5892.  
     
     
         16 . The grass of  claim 1 , wherein the endophyte comprises El-Kelaa-des-Mgouna, Morocco KBG 5914, Boumalne-de-Dades, Morocco KBG 5921, USDA-PI no. 516560, mixtures and combinations thereof  
     
     
         17 . The grass of  claim 1 , wherein the endophyte comprises El-Kelaa-des-Mgouna, Morocco KBG 5914.  
     
     
         18 . The grass of  claim 1 , wherein the endophyte comprises Boumalne-de-Dades, Morocco KBG 5921.  
     
     
         19 . The grass of  claim 1 , wherein the endophyte comprises USDA-PI no. 516560.  
     
     
         20 . The grass of  claim 1 , wherein the grass comprises  Festuca arundinacea.    
     
     
         21 . A method of stably infecting a plant with an endophyte comprising the steps of: 
 isolating an endophyte from the genus Neotyphodium from an infected plant; and    growing the endophyte on a suitable substrate; and    inoculating an endophyte-free plant with the endophyte to form a stably infected plant,    where the endophytes are selected from the group consisting of USDA-PI no.269850, Ijoukak, Morocco 92060, Ouarzazate, Morocco KBG 5938, Oujda, Morocco KBG 5892, El-Kelaa-des-Mgouna, Morocco KBG 5914, Boumalne-de-Dades, Morocco KBG 5921, USDA-PI no. 516560, mixtures and combinations thereof and the plant is selected from the group consisting of Agropyron, Agrostis, Andropogon, Anthoxanthum, Arrhenatherum, Avena, Brachypodium, Bromus, Chloris, Cynodon, Dactylis, Elymus, Eragrostis, Elytrigia, Festuca, Glyceria, Hierochloe, Hordeum, Leymus, Lolium, Oryza, Panicum, Paspalum, Phalaris, Phleum, Poa, Secale, Setaria, Sorghum, Stipa, Triticum, Zea, Zoysia and their hybrids.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising the step of infecting seed of the plant with the endophyte.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the endophyte is selected from the group consisting of Ijoukak, Morocco 92060, Oujda, Morocco KBG 5892, El-Kelaa-des-Mgouna, Morocco KBG 5914, Boumalne-de-Dades, Morocco KBG,5921, USDA-PI no. 516560, mixtures and combinations thereof and the plant are selected from the group consisting of genera of Festuca, Lolium and their hybrids.