The Life Cycle of Tall Fescue Grass
- Tall fescue grasses begin as seeds fallen from other tall fescue. The seed germinates and begins growing near other fescue as Roberts states that fescue is a "perennial, bunch grass." Seeds falling from endophyte-infested plants are infected and produce endophyte-infected sprouts.
- Fescue sprouts at or below the surface and pushes leaves upward, states Rayburn. The grass produces good roots and dense sod. Fescue establishes a root system before entering the vegetative state. Typically the endophyte infection resides at the stem-leaf junction of the grass in this phase of development.
- The fescue leaves, "may reach 48 inches," says Roberts. As they grow they create leaf sheaths through the stem to prepare for the growth of reproductive tillers near the infected stem-leaf junction. This prepares the infection for transfer to new seeds.
- During the reproductive phase, Rayburn reports, "as the plant produces seed heads, the fungal endophyte moves up into the stem [and as the seed] develops, the endophyte invades the new seed." This creates new infected plants that continue the infection cycle. Rayburn notes that, "It appears the only way the tall fescue endophyte infects a plant is through the seeds from infected plants."
- The endophyte fungus is Neotyphodium coenophialum (formerly called Acremonium coenophialum) and is toxic to animals, according to Roberts. Animals may lose body weight even though grazing constantly, experience reproductive issues, have and elevated body temperature or reduced blood flow. Any of these effects could spell disaster for cattle grazing on infected fescue grasses.