Neotyphodium melicicola | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Fungi |
Division: | Ascomycota |
Class: | Ascomycetes |
Subclass: | Sordariomycetes |
Order: | Hypocreales |
Family: | Clavicipitaceae |
Genus: | Neotyphodium |
Species: | N. melicicola |
Binomial name | |
Neotyphodium melicicola C.D. Moon & Schardl |
Neotyphodium melicicola is a systemic and seed-transmissible symbiont of Melica decumbens and Melica racemosa, grasses endemic to southern Africa.[1]. These species are called 'dronkgras' because they can cause staggers in grazing livestock.[2] Similar staggers symptoms are associated with several other grasses worldwide when they possess certain symbiotic Neotyphodium species that produce indole-diterpene alkaloids such as lolitrems.[3] Molecular phylogenetic analysis indicates that N. melicicola is an interspecific hybrid, and that its closest relatives are the teleomorphic (sexual) species, Epichloë festucae, and the anamorphic (asexual) species, Neotyphodium aotearoae.[1]