AR153 - a new Epichloë fungal endophyte for ryegrass
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33584/jnzg.2026.88.3913Abstract
Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) persistence in many parts of New Zealand is reliant on its association with the mutualistic Epichloë fungal endophyte. This endophyte protects ryegrass from various insect pests and can improve tolerance to some abiotic stresses such as drought. Over the last 25 years several selected endophyte strains have been commercialised. These strains have improved ryegrass persistence and minimised the negative impacts on livestock of ryegrass staggers, heat stress and productivity losses associated with the standard endophyte strain. A new endophyte
strain is becoming available – AR153, as a replacement for AR1. This Epichloë strain from Italy has a similar known chemical profile to AR1, through expression of peramine, but it also produces chanoclavine. AR153 protects ryegrass against the same insect pests as AR1. It exhibits improved or similar animal safety, high transmission to seed, improved storage in seed and similar yield and persistence compared with AR1. No food safety concerns have been identified. These traits indicate that AR153 is an effective replacement for AR1, supporting greater ryegrass persistence than
endophyte-free pastures while reducing the incidence of ryegrass staggers.
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