Impact of Management on Endophyte Free and Endophyte Infected Tall Fescue Cultivars in Ohio

Ten cultivars of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea, Schreb.) and one cultivar of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) were part of a study to determine changes in endophyte levels of fescue under two different styles of forage management: intensive and extensive. Included in the study were two endophyte infected-cultivars of tall fescue to compare interactions with endophyte free and infected cultivars. After three years, the results demonstrate that under high levels of management and non-endophyte infected crops prior to seeding, introduction of the endophyte can be reduced or delayed. Under lower levels of management and a smother crop into endophyte infected fescue prior to seeding, high yielding endophyte free cultivars maintain the lowest percent of re-infection (25.0- 32.1% infected)