In situ ergot alkaloid detection in three Balansia epichloe‐infected grass species

• Published in: Journal of applied microbiology Vol. 125; no. 4; pp. 976 - 985
• Main Authors: Bacon, C.W., Hinton, D.M., Mitchell, T.R., Palencia, E.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01-10-2018
• Subjects: Alkaloids; Balansia epichloe; Balansieae; Capillaries; Cryptic species; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Divergence; DNA; Endophytes; Endophytes - chemistry; Endophytes - genetics; Endophytes - isolation & purification; Endophytes - metabolism; Eragrostis capillaris; Eragrostis hirsuta; Ergot; ergot alkaloids; Ergot Alkaloids - chemistry; Ergot Alkaloids - metabolism; Gene sequencing; Grasses; Hypocreales - chemistry; Hypocreales - genetics; Hypocreales - isolation & purification; Hypocreales - metabolism; Ionization; LAESI–mass spectrometry; Laser ablation; Mass Spectrometry; Mass spectroscopy; Molecular Structure; Phylogeny; Poaceae - chemistry; Poaceae - microbiology; Scientific imaging; Smut; Species; Spectroscopy; Sporobolus poiretii; Symbionts; Symbiosis; Toxicity; Eragrostis hirsuta; Eragrostis capillaris; ergot alkaloids; LAESI-mass spectrometry; Balansieae; Balansia epichloe; Sporobolus poiretii; endophytes
• ISSN: 1364-5072; 1365-2672
• DOI: 10.1111/jam.13941

Aims
The objectives of this work were to characterize molecularly the morphologically described endophyte Balansia epichloe symbiotic on three grass species, and to determine the in situ production of ergot alkaloids on these three symbiota.
Methods and Results
Balansia epichloe symbiotic with smut grass (Sporobolus poiretii), love grass (Eragrostis hirsuta) and lace grass (Eragrostis capillaries, a new host) were characterized using DNA barcoding. Laser ablation electro spray ionization (LAESI)–mass spectrometry was used to detect ergot alkaloids in situ for each symbiotum.
Conclusions
The three morphologically described symbionts on the three host grasses were indicated as belonging to the species B. epichloe, DNA barcoding suggested they were related although a cryptic species was suggested. LAESI–mass spectrometry showed that ergot alkaloids were produced in vivo in two hosts but not the third although this same symbiotum was related to one of the ergot alkaloid producing symbiota as revealed by the DNA‐barcoding procedure.
Significance and Impact of the Study
These results established the accumulation of ergot alkaloids in pot culture by a morpho species although there were variations with each species of grass. Barcoding described divergence among species, but considering its limitation, the suggested existence of cryptic species among this morphospecies requires substantiation by studies that are more rigorous.