Effects of choke disease in the grass Brachypodium phoenicoides

Abstract

Using phenotypic and molecular characters, as well as mating compatibility tests, the fungus causing choke disease in Brachypodium phoenicoides was identified as Epichloë typhina. A three year field experiment conducted with infected and uninfected plants of a single clone of B. phoenicoides showed no significant differences in biomass production during their vegetative growth stage, but the content of calcium, magnesium and manganese was significantly greater, and that of sodium was significantly lower in infected plants compared to uninfected plants. Infected plants produced up to twice as many reproductive tillers as healthy plants, but their reproductive tissue biomass was significantly smaller than that of healthy plants, because tiller development was arrested by choke forming stromata. © 2008 The Authors.