Will novel endophyte-infected tall fescue persist?
Attention in past years has focused on preventing fescue toxicosis by removing the toxin-producing fungus and establishing endophyte-free stands. Gains and reproductive performance of animals grazing endophyte-free tall fescue are higher than toxic tall fescue; however, these pastures are intolerant of drought and heavy grazing and frequently fail. Because of this potential for stand losses, many producers elect to plant more “dependable” toxic tall fescue and tolerate economic losses associated with the toxins. Persistence of novel endophyte-infected tall fescue must be substantially better than that of endophyte-free tall fescue to justify higher seed costs and destruction of existing toxic tall fescue stands. To test persistence under severe grazing conditions, MaxQTM, endophyte-free and toxic tall fescue were planted into a bermudagrass sod near Eatonton, Georgia (Figure 2). These plots were established on droughty soils and grazed closely during two summers to accel-erate stand de
