Spring, 2004Endophytes (endo-fites) are a special breed of fungi, which live in grass plants. You find endophytes living in the stems, leaves, even the seeds produced by grass plants. Until some 30 years ago, there were no endophytes found in turfgrass, but then laboratory research came to the rescue. Technicians over a span of years “impregnated” endophytes in select cultivars of ryegrass. Subsequently, endophytes were passed on to Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and tall fescue.
Why are endophtes good for the grass growing on your lawn? Endophytes produce a handful of “alkaloids” which are toxic to insects. If the grass growing on your lawn has inbred endophytes, the endophyte will kill insects feeding on the roots and blades of grass. Insects killed by endophytes include armyworms, billbugs, chinch bugs, clover mites. Grain mites, green bugs and sod webworms.
Turfgrasses with inbred endophytes have assets not found in grasses without the fungi. For example,
* Fungi from endophytes improve the drought tolerance of your lawn;
* Because endophytes prevent insects from damaging the lawn, the grass can better compete with weeds without treating the lawn with pesticides;
* Grasses with endophytes were able to suppress crabgrass and black medic weeds on the lawn in Ohio research tests; and
* Endophytic grasses are best cut at a three-inch mowing height to increase production of alkaloids in the grass plant.
If you don’t know if the turfgrass on your lawn has endophytes, don’t worry. You probably know the name of your grass. Next time you visit the nursery, check the shelves where they stock boxes and bags of lawn seeds. Find the grass you have, and then read the small print on the label. If your grass has endophytes, the label will say so.
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