Epichloë species and their asexual descendants (Acremonium endophytes) are fungal symbionts of C3 grasses that span the symbiotic continuum from antagonism to mutualism depending on the relative importance, respectively, of horizontal transmission of sexual spores versus vertical clonal transmission in healthy grass seeds. At least seven sexual Epichloë species are identifiable by mating tests, and many asexual genotypes are interspecific hybrids. Benefits conferred by the symbionts on host plants include protection from biotic factors and abiotic stresses such as drought. Four classes of beneficial alkaloids are associated with the symbionts: ergot alkaloids, indolediterpenes (lolitrems), peramine, and saturated aminopyrrolizidines (lolines). These alkaloids protect host plants from insect and vertebrate herbivores, including livestock. Genetic engineering of the fungal symbionts as more suitable biological protectants for forage grasses requires identification of fungal genes for alkaloid biosynthesis, and DNA-mediated transformation of the fungi.

中文翻译：

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上皮物种：草的真菌共生体。

Epichloë物种及其无性后代（Acremonium内生植物）是C3草的真菌共生体，它们从拮抗作用到共生状态跨越共生连续体，分别取决于健康草种子中性孢子的水平传播与垂直的克隆传播的相对重要性。至少7种有性Epichloë物种可以通过交配试验鉴定出来，许多无性基因型是种间杂种。共生体对寄主植物的好处包括免受生物因子和非生物胁迫（例如干旱）的侵害。共生体与四类有益生物碱有关：麦角生物碱，吲哚二萜（lolitrems），过胺和饱和氨基吡咯烷核苷（lolines）。这些生物碱可保护宿主植物免受昆虫和脊椎动物食草动物的侵害，包括家畜。