IMPROVED FUNGAL ENDOPHYTES

摘要

The present invention relates generally to at least one epichloae fungal endophyte strain which when combined with at least one species of Secale spp. confers at least some level of pest protection on the Secale spp. plant. In particular the invention relates to an isolated strain of epichloae fungal endophyte selected from the group consisting of AR3039 (NRRL# 50716), AR3046 (NRRL# 50576), AR3049 (NRRL#50577), AR3050 (NRRL# 50578), AR3064 (NRRL# 50718), AR3067 (NRRL# 50719), AR3068 (NRRL# 50720), AR3073 (NRRL# 50721), AR3074 (NRRL# 50722), AR3076 (NRRL# 50723), and AR3078 (NRRL# 50724), and combinations thereof, to a Secale spp. plant infected with a fungal endophyte wherein Secale spp. is not a natural host of the endophyte, to a method of making a stable host plant/epichloae fungal endophyte combination, to a method of conferring at least some level of pest protection on a host Secale spp. plant, and to a Secale spp. seed infected with an epichloae fungal endophyte.