Effects of Turfgrass Endophytes (Clavicipitaceae: Ascomycetes) on White Grub (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Larval Development and Field Populations

Koppenhöfer, Albrecht M.; Cowles, Richard S.; Fuzy, Eugene M.

doi:10.1603/0046-225x-32.4.895

Cited by 19 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Equivocal response of scarab grubs to EI tall fescue, including variable, inconsistent effects on weight gain, survival and developmental rate, has been observed in earlier studies as well (Potter et al. 1992; Koppenhöfer et al. 2003).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

“…to EI or EF pastures could be attributable to toxicity or reduced palatability and intake although in neither case did grass type affect the proportion of the population attaining the third stadium by autumn. Equivocal response of scarab grubs to EI tall fescue, including variable, inconsistent effects on weight gain, survival and developmental rate, has been observed in earlier studies as well (Potter et al 1992;Koppenhö fer et al 2003).…”

Section: Figsupporting

confidence: 55%

“…We saw no significant differences in abundance of spiders, ground beetles, rove beetles, lady beetles, mesostigmatid or oribatid mites, or parasitism of leafhoppers in the different pasture types, suggesting absence of strong tritrophic effects in the field. Two earlier field studies also found little difference in abundance of invertebrate predators inhabiting tall fescue with or without the common strain endophyte (Davidson and Potter 1995; Koppenhöfer et al. 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

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Arthropod abundance in tall fescue, Lolium arundinaceum, pastures containing novel ‘safe’ endophytes

Keathley¹,

Potter²

2011

J Applied Entomology

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Poor livestock performance on tall fescue is linked to infection by a fungal endophyte that enhances grass resistance to stress, including herbivory, while producing ergot alkaloids toxic to vertebrate grazers. Novel ‘safe’ endophyte/grass associations produce no ergot alkaloids yet retain stand persistence, but they could be more susceptible to insect outbreaks. We tested the hypothesis that grass‐feeding insects are more abundant in novel endophyte pastures compared with those containing common endophyte. Above‐ and below‐ground herbivores were sampled across two growing seasons in pastures containing common strain endophyte (KY31), novel endophytes (MaxQ or AR584) or endophyte free. We also sampled natural enemies as an indicator of possible tritrophic effects. With a few exceptions, numbers of predatory, chewing (grasshoppers, crickets, caterpillars) or sucking insects (leafhoppers, planthoppers) were similar in common and novel endophyte pastures. Contrary to our hypothesis, Aphrodes spp. leafhoppers were more abundant in KY31 than other pasture types in 2008; their nymphs also were more abundant in KY31 than in MaxQ in 2009. Adults (but not total numbers or nymphs) of another leafhopper, Psammotettix striatus, were less abundant in KY31 than other pasture types in 2009. Popillia japonica and Cyclocephala spp. grubs did not differ in density, weight or instar among the endophyte‐containing associations. In feeding assays, armyworm (Mythimna unipuncta) survival was higher on MaxQ and NE9301, and weight gain was higher on NE9301, suggesting armyworm outbreaks could be more severe on such grasses, but that result may not be attributable solely to alkaloids because common strain and endophyte‐free grasses did not differ in either parameter. Caterpillar abundance did not differ among pasture types in the field. Our results suggest that re‐seeding common strain endophytic pastures with livestock‐safe novel endophyte/grass associations to alleviate fescue toxicosis is unlikely to promote markedly higher populations of plant‐feeding insects.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

Section: Figsupporting

confidence: 55%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

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Arthropod abundance in tall fescue, Lolium arundinaceum, pastures containing novel ‘safe’ endophytes

Keathley¹,

Potter²

2011

J Applied Entomology

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“…If root colonized by bacteria were unpalatable, lower survival and weight gains would be evident. Similarly, fungal endophyte experiments with P. japonica also do not show lower weights or survival on endophyte‐infected grass . The greater root mass of the PGPR and fertilized grasses did not appear to produce greater mass of white grubs in those treatments.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Rhizobacterial treatments of tall fescue and bermudagrass increases tolerance to damage from white grubs

Coy

Held

Kloepper³

2019

Pest Management Science

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Background Inoculation of hybrid bermudagrass with plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can increase plant growth and influence relationships with above‐ground herbivores like fall armyworms. However, few experiments have evaluated PGPR applications relative to root herbivory. Root‐feeding white grubs cause severe damage to grasses, especially in tall fescue pastures, golf courses, and lawns. Since bacterial inoculants enhance root growth, the goal of this study was to determine if the inoculation of hybrid bermudagrass by rhizobacteria can increase the tolerance of tall fescue and hybrid bermudagrass to damage from white grub feeding, and if PGPR are compatible with neonicotinoid insecticides commonly used for white grub control. Results In trials with tall fescue and hybrid bermudagrass, grasses were treated with the PGPR strain mixture Blend 20 or nitrogen or left non‐treated and were then infested with Japanese beetle grubs. Grasses treated with PGPR and nitrogen fertilizer produced significantly more top growth than the non‐treated grub‐infested controls. Tall fescue and hybrid bermudagrass treated with Blend 20 produced root mass similar to or greater than nitrogen fertilized grasses. Both grasses treated with Blend 20 had greater root mass than non‐treated infested grass. No treatment negatively impacted grub survival, and weight gains of grubs were similar for all treatments. Bacterial strains were typically compatible with insecticides used to control white grubs. Conclusion PGPR and nitrogen fertilization stimulate root growth resulting in tolerance of tall fescue and hybrid bermudagrass to white grub infestation. PGPR, acting as biostimulants to increase root biomass on grasses, may have utility for IPM of root herbivores. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry

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“…Adult scarabs, too, attract birds associated with strike hazard (Buckley and McCarthy, 1994; Bernhardt et al, 2010; Washburn et al, 2011). Endophytes tend to have weak or no effects on abundance of grubs, earthworms, or other soil biota (Potter et al, 1992; Davidson and Potter, 1995; Koppenhöfer et al, 2003; Popay and Jensen, 2005; Lemons et al, 2005; Rudgers and Clay, 2007; Keathley and Potter, 2012), which is expected given their localization in aboveground tissues. Endophytic alkaloids appear to become attenuated up through the food web and to have little or no effect on field abundance of predatory insects and spiders (Davidson and Potter, 1995; Rudgers and Clay, 2007; Keathley and Potter, 2012; this study).…”

Section: Discussion and Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of ‘Jackal’ AR601 (Avanex) and Kentucky‐31 Endophytic Tall Fescues for Suppressing Types of Invertebrates that Contribute to Bird Strike Hazard at Airports

Miller

Redmond

Flythe

et al. 2017

Crop Forage & Turfgrass Mgmt

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Core Ideas Endophytic grasses have been suggested for reducing bird strike hazard at airports. Besides deterring geese, such grasses might suppress insects that attract birds. Avanex tall fescue has been marketed as a bird‐deterrent grass for use at airports. Avanex and KY‐31 were tested against invertebrates in field and greenhouse trials. Neither grass is likely to appreciably reduce the food base for insectivorous birds. Use of endophyte‐infected (E+) grasses to deter vertebrate grazers such as geese, and invertebrates attractive to insectivorous birds, has been proposed as a means to reduce bird strike hazard at airports. ‘Jackal’ tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) with the endophyte strain AR601, branded Avanex Unique Endophyte Technology and marketed as a bird‐deterrent grass, purportedly expresses inordinately high levels of both ergovaline to induce bird avoidance behavior and loline alkaloids for insect resistance. We tested the hypothesis that Avanex is more effective than Kentucky‐31 (KY‐31), a common tall fescue with wild‐type endophyte, for suppressing types of invertebrates fed on by birds. Bioactivity of Jackal AR601 and KY‐31, with or without their endophytes, was compared in insect feeding trials, and against macroinvertebrate communities in field plots. Presence of viable endophyte was confirmed by immunoblot and alkaloid analyses. Alkaloid concentrations varied seasonally but were no higher in Jackal AR601 than in E+ KY‐31. Both E+ grasses suppressed an endophyte‐sensitive aphid, but effects on grass‐feeding caterpillars were more subtle, with similar and some cases better larval growth and survival on Avanex than on KY‐31. Neither E+ grass reduced populations of earthworms, white grubs, or aboveground macroinvertebrates. This study suggests that suppression of invertebrates by Avanex or E+ KY‐31 is probably too weak to significantly reduce the food supply for insectivorous birds at airports.

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Effects of Turfgrass Endophytes (Clavicipitaceae: Ascomycetes) on White Grub (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Larval Development and Field Populations

Cited by 19 publications

References 22 publications

Arthropod abundance in tall fescue, Lolium arundinaceum, pastures containing novel ‘safe’ endophytes

Arthropod abundance in tall fescue, Lolium arundinaceum, pastures containing novel ‘safe’ endophytes

Rhizobacterial treatments of tall fescue and bermudagrass increases tolerance to damage from white grubs

Evaluation of ‘Jackal’ AR601 (Avanex) and Kentucky‐31 Endophytic Tall Fescues for Suppressing Types of Invertebrates that Contribute to Bird Strike Hazard at Airports

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