Discovery of as novel endophytes of in China and their alkaloid profiling.

The genus represents a significant group of above-ground endophytes extensively researched for their potential applications in agriculture and ecology. Additionally, species synthesize bioactive alkaloids, which generally cause health problems in livestock and have detrimental effects on the performance of insect herbivores. serves as a valuable forage grass for livestock owing to its high nutritional value and resilience in adverse environmental conditions. Nevertheless, to date, no reports have documented as endophytes of . In this study, four strains (PF5, PF9, QG2, and QG4) were isolated and identified through morphological, molecular, and phylogenetic analyses as endophytes of . Morphological analysis indicated colony characteristics and conidia features consistent with symbiotic , with no significant differences observed in growth rates or conidia dimensions among the four strains. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed all strains as . Additionally, alkaloid biosynthetic genes were detected, revealing differences in the potential synthesis of peramine and indole diterpenoid alkaloids among strains from different geographic origins. However, all four strains exhibited similar potential for synthesizing ergot alkaloids, but not loline alkaloids. Overall, this study identified as a novel host for and provided insights into the alkaloid profiles of these strains, laying a solid foundation for the scientific and rational utilization of resources.