Where do we go from here?

Abstract

The viability of this international symposium on grass/fungal endophytes is a direct measure of the nature and strength of the underlying science itself. The symposium's past was dominated by a multidiscipline approach and a geographic focus in New Zealand, USA, and Australia, due mainly to the economic impact of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) when infected with Neotyphodium endophytes. There have been many research and technological findings reported during the past five symposia, with novel endophytes as an example of one having positive on-farm impact. In the future, it is anticipated that 1) the multidisciplinary approach will continue; 2) patenting issues will cause disruptions (hopefully small) in information sharing; 3) funding will drive the underlying science thereby continuing a concentration of work in New Zealand, Australia, and the USA, but opportunities will arise in these major countries for collaborative research with scientists in other geographies; 4) commercialisation and on-farm use of novel endophytes will expand; 5) sequencing and gene expression data will be available for the main fungal genomes, and microarray, genomics, and transciptome approaches will grow in importance; and 6) development of a "mind map" will help identify knowledge gaps for determining endophyte effects on animals. However, it was the inspiration, leadership, confidence, and even boldness of individual scientists in the field that pushed both this symposium and the science to the level it is today. Therefore, as the symposium moves forward, younger scientists need to assume leadership roles, and then be bold and confident in pushing forward; especially with continuing the symposium. Keywords: Neotyphodium, fungal endophytes, symposium, grasses, tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, biotechnologies