Endophytes

Does your paddock experience insect pressure? If you’ve answered yes, consider sowing a ryegrass or tall fescue variety with an endophyte.

An endophyte is a fungus found naturally in many grass species, including ryegrass. It provides the plant with protection from insects, and in return the plant provides the endophyte with a place to live and reproduce.

For important information on Endophyte insect control and the potential effects on animal safety, click here.

DLF Seeds, endophyte experts for over 25 years: AR37, ENDO5 and AR1 are proven and trusted, AgResearch novel endophytes. AgResearch novel endophytes are identified and thoroughly tested with world-renowned science, with emphasis placed on testing effects on animals, insects, pasture production and persistence.

How an endophyte protects your pasture

AR37 endophyte

AR37 endophyte takes ryegrass pasture persistence and protection to a premium level.

Pests controlled: Argentine Stem Weevil Larvae, Pasture Mealy Bug, Adult Black Beetle and Root Aphid.

Available in: Base, Reason, One50, Vast, Legion^#, Platform^# and Expo perennial ryegrass, Mohaka hybrid ryegrass and Lush Italian ryegrass.

Benefits of ryegrass with AR37 endophyte

Provides the best balance of pasture production and persistence
Higher tiller density over time
Assists with post-drought recovery and improves agronomic performance
Provides stronger control of more insect pests compared to ryegrass cultivars containing AR1 or standard endophyte
May produce greater carcass weight per hectare compared to ryegrass cultivars containing standard endophyte (SE)
Helps to provide a greater return on investment
Increased total dry matter production compared to ryegrass cultivars containing AR1 or nil endophyte
Has no Ergovaline so may increase milk production compared to endophytes containing high Ergovaline levels
Increased sheep performance compared to ryegrass cultivars containing standard endophyte
Low incidence of dags in sheep (similar to that of cultivars containing AR1 endophyte)

Limitations of ryegrass with AR37 endophytes
AR37 varieties should not be used or fed to any other classes of stock other than sheep, beef and dairy (eg. grazing horses/monogastrics)

Sheep on Base AR37 perennial ryegrass

Endo5 endophyte

Good pest control and no known risk of ryegrass staggers.

Pests controlled: Black Beetle, Argentine Stem Weevil Larvae, Root Aphid (moderate control) and Pasture Mealy Bug. (Comparatively, AR37 has demonstrated stronger protection from pests and insects).

Available in: Reward perennial ryegrass.

Benefits of ryegrass with Endo5 endophyte

Contains no Lolitrem B, the main cause of ryegrass staggers
Produces less Ergovaline for increased milk production compared to endophytes containing high levels of Ergovaline (Standard Endophyte)
Increased persistence compared to AR1 endophyte
Pest and insect protection better than AR1

Limitations of ryegrass with Endo5 endophyte

May produce lower animal performance levels over summer/autumn compared to ryegrass cultivars containing AR1 or nil endophyte

AR1 endophyte

A novel endophyte option with high animal performance and no known animal health issues.

Pests controlled: Argentine Stem Weevil and Pasture Mealy Bug.

Available in: *Platform, *Legion and One50 perennial ryegrass.

Benefits of ryegrass with AR1 endophyte

Delivers excellent animal performance
Provides a moderate range of insect protection
Increase in milk production compared to ryegrass cultivars containing standard endophyte (where ryegrass persists)

Limitations of ryegrass with AR1 endophytes

Has demonstrated poorer persistence in areas with major insect pest pressure from Black Beetle and Root Aphid
AR1 can be overgrazed, resulting in more stress on the plant which may affect long term pasture persistence

MaxP® endophyte

A premium endophyte protecting tall fescue with no known animal health impacts for beef, sheep and dairy.

Pests controlled: African Black Beetle, Agrentine Stem Weevil, Root Aphid and limited control of Field Cricket.

Available in: Quantica, Hummer and Quantum II tall fescue.

Benefits of tall fescue with MaxP endophyte

An endophyte that improves the ability of tall fescue pastures to handle pest attack and possibly moisture stress
Aids persistence and performance of tall fescue
No known adverse animal health effects in beef, sheep and dairy

AR37, Endo5™, AR1 and MaxP® endophytes

It is important to choose the right endophyte for your operation. Some endophyte strains provide better insect protection but there may also be some impact on animal health. If you need a little extra know how, contact us on 1800 619 910 or visit dlfseeds.com.au/contact/contact-us.

Standard endophyte (SE)

Limitations of grass with Standard endophyte

Contains Lolitrem B, the main cause of ryegrass staggers which can cause significant stock losses in some seasons
Milk production may be lower in sheep, weight of lambs may be lower, and adult sheep consistently have lower bodyweight when grazing toxic pastures even when clinical staggers is not apparent
Contains high levels of Ergovaline, which causes subclinical heat stress and is linked to other negative animal side effects

Other effects

Scours/dags
Affects weight gain
Lower milk production
Higher water intake
General "ill thrift"
Sub clinical heat stress

The Neotyphodium endophytes infecting these grasses are not known to be transferred with pollen or by physical contact (Siegel et al., 1984).
David E. Hume and David J. Barker 2005 GROWTH AND MANAGEMENT OF ENDOPHYTIC GRASSES IN PASTORAL AGRICULTURE. In Neotyphodium in cool-season grasses. Eds. CA Roberts, CP West, DE Spiers 201-226 Iowa, IA: Blackwell Publishing

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