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Abstract
The grass parasitic fungus Claviceps purpurea sensu lato produces sclerotia with toxic indole alkaloids. It constitutes several genetic groups with divergent habitat preferences that recently were delimited into separate proposed species. We aimed to 1) analyze genetic variation of C. purpurea sensu lato in Norway, 2) characterize the associated indole alkaloid profiles, and 3) explore relationships between genetics, alkaloid chemistry and ecology. Approximately 600 sclerotia from 14 different grass species were subjected to various analyses including DNA sequencing and HPLC-MS. Molecular results, supported by chemical and ecological data, revealed one new genetic group (G4) in addition to two of the three known; G1 (C. purpurea sensu stricto) and G2 (C. humidiphila). G3 (C. spartinae) was not found. G4, which was apparently con-specific with the recently described C. arundinis sp. nov, was predominantly found in very wet habitats on Molinia caerulea and infrequently in saline habitats on Leymus arenarius. Its indole-diterpene profile resembled G2, while its ergot alkaloid profile differed from G2 in high amounts of ergosedmam. In contrast to G1, indole-diterpenes were consistently present in G2 and G4. Our study supports and complements the newly proposed species delimitation of the C. purpurea complex, but challenges some species characteristics including host spectrum, habitat preferences and sclerotial floating ability.
Highlights
The ergot fungus Claviceps purpurea is a phytopathogenic ascomycete that parasitizes more than 400 species in the grass family (Poaceae) including wild and cultivated pasture- and forage grasses and common cereals [1,2]
In the tree, included sequences of this study are denoted with original host of the Claviceps sclerotium designated by a sequence ID encoded as follows: Locality (FAR = Farsund; KOR = Korsvoll; KUR = Kurdøla; MAR = Maridalen; TRY = Tryvann), plot # (1–8) within each location, habitat (D = dry, W = wet, VW = very wet, S = saline), host (Ao = Anthoxanthum odoratum, Ca = Calamagrostis arundinacea, Ce = Calamagrostis epigejos, Fr = Festuca rubra, La = Leymus arenarius, Mc = Molinia caerula, Pa = Phalaris arundinacea, Pp = Phleum pretense, Sp = Schedonorus pratensis), floating ability (F = floating, S = sinking), sclerotia # within the sample, and the genetic group (G1–G4)
In agreement with Pažoutová et al [21] we found that ergocristine, ergocryptine and ergosine were the major ergopeptines in sclerotia of C. humidiphila (G2)
Summary
The ergot fungus Claviceps purpurea is a phytopathogenic ascomycete that parasitizes more than 400 species in the grass family (Poaceae) including wild and cultivated pasture- and forage grasses and common cereals [1,2]. The sclerotia are resting- and overwintering structures containing a wide variety of alkaloids (Figure S1). These alkaloids, comprising 0.5%–2% of the total sclerotium weight [3], target the central and peripheral nervous systems of invertebrate and vertebrate animals, leading to toxicoses and behavioural changes which reduce herbivory and enhance protection of the ergot sclerotia [4]. Claviceps purpurea is primarily known for its production of ergot alkaloids, which have severe effects on the nervous system and smooth muscles [5,6]. The disease caused by some of the ergot alkaloids found in sclerotia, was a major concern during the Middle
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