Enhanced resistance in perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne L., to the bluegrass billbug, Sphenophorus parvulus Gyllenhal is associated with the presence of a fungal endophyte, Acremonium loliae Latch et al. Severe billbug infestations occurred in 1981Severe billbug infestations occurred in , 1983Severe billbug infestations occurred in , and 1984 in two different turf evaluation field trials. Striking differences in cultivar response were observed. Subsequent investigations led to the discovery that billbugresistant ryegrass entries had very high levels of endophyte infection; whereas, susceptible entries had little or no endophyte infection. Further, the resistance was found to be maternally transmitted, and its dramatic prevalence within a maternal line was explained by the high frequency (over 95%) of seed transmission of the endophyte. This newly recognized source of plant resistance to several insect pests warrants additional study.
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