Environmental effect on Epichloë endophyte occurrence and ergovaline concentration in wild populations of forage grasses in Poland

Aims The presence of endophytes (EF) and ergovaline contents (ERV) in grasses from permanent grasslands in Poland with relation to the local climatic conditions were investigated to determine climatic features that likely affect the endophyte presence and ergovaline production. Methods About 750 ecotypes of 26 grass species were collected from 226 locations and tested for EF presence and ERV contents. Results were used to calculate correlation coefficients as well as autocorrelations using 21 bioclimatic variables ascribed to each locality. Results Ergovaline was found in endophyte infected (E+) plants from 68 % locations, mostly in Festuca pratensis and Lolium perenne . The average highest amount of ERV was produced by E+ Festuca arundinacea ecotypes (0.998 mg·kg −1 ). Mean ERV in L. perenne and F. pratensis were much lower - 0.200 and 0.125 mg·kg −1 , respectively. E+ ecotypes of Deschampsia cespitosa , Lolium multiflorum , Phleum pratense and Poa pratensis were ERV free. Spatial correlation coefficients proved positive correlation between temperature-related variables and EF for Festuca rubra, F. ovina and L. perenne . For ERV in F. pratensis significant but negative spatial correlation coefficients were calculated for the summer precipitation. Conclusions The proportion of overall variation of EF and ERV ascribed to climatic condition was low. Spatial variability of EF in tested species was most probably random.