Endophytes and related methods

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for identifying and/or characterising an endophyte strain, said method including providing a plurality of samples of endophytes, subjecting said endophytes to genetic analysis, subjecting said endophytes to metabolic analysis and selecting endophytes having a desired genetic and metabolic profile. The present invention also relates to novel endophytes having a desired toxin profile wherein the endophyte produces significantly less toxic alkaloids compared with a control endophyte such as standard toxic (ST) endophyte; and/or significantly more alkaloids conferring beneficial properties compared with a control endophyte such as ST endophyte. The present invention also relates to endophyte variants having a desired genetic and metabolic profile, wherein said endophyte variants possess genetic and/or metabolic characteristics that result in a beneficial phenotype in a plant harbouring or otherwise associated with the endophyte variant. Preferably said endophyte variants are generated by polyploidisation or induced chromosome doubling.

1 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A plant, seed, or part thereof,
 wherein the plant is a tall fescue or perennial ryegrass plant,   wherein the plant, seed, or part thereof is associated with a fungal endophyte isolated from one of tall fescue and perennial ryegrass, said endophyte being selected from the group consisting National Measurement Institute Accession Nos. V10/000002, V10/000003, V10/00004, V10/00001, V10/030284, V10/030285, V12/001413, V12/001414, V12/001415, V12/001416, V12/001417, V12/001418 and V12/001419, and   wherein the plant, seed or part thereof is associated with a fungal endophyte isolated from a different type of plant to form an association that does not occur in nature.   
     
     
         34 . The plant, seed, or part thereof according to  claim 33 , wherein said plant is a tall fescue, the plant, seed, or part thereof is associated with an endophyte selected from the group consisting of National Measurement Institute Accession Nos. V10/000002, V10/000003, and V10/00004. 
     
     
         35 . The plant, seed, or part thereof according to  claim 33 , wherein said plant is a perennial ryegrass plant, the plant, seed, or part thereof and is associated with an endophyte selected from the group consisting of National Measurement Institute Accession Nos. V10/00001, V10/030284, V10/030285, V12/001413, V12/001414, V12/001415, V12/001416, V12/001417, V12/001418 and V12/001419.