Characterization of an Epichloë Festucae Antifungal Protein.

Strong creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra subsp. rubra L.) is an important low maintenance turfgrass species. Strong creeping red fescue plants are often naturally infected with the fungal endophyte Epichloë festucae Leuchtm., Schardl & M.R. Siegel. Endophyte infection can confer insect and disease resistance to strong creeping red fescue. Endophyte-mediated disease resistance in strong creeping red fescue is not a general feature of other grass/endophyte interactions and the basis of the disease resistance is currently unknown. An abundantly expressed transcript for a protein similar to a Penicillium antifungal protein was recovered from a SOLiD-SAGE transcriptome of E. festucae-infected F. rubra. Genes similar to the E. festucae antifungal protein are not found in most Epichloë spp. for which whole genome sequences are available. The uniqueness of the E. festucae antifungal gene and its transcript abundance makes it a candidate factor involved in the observed disease resistance of endophyte-infected F. rubra. We are currently characterizing the antifungal protein. We have expressed and partially purified the protein in yeast and it did have activity against the dollar spot fungus. We are also attempting to knockout the antifungal protein gene to assess its effect on dollar spot disease resistance in endophyte-infected turf.