Isolation of a Potential Antifungal Protein Produced by Epichloë festucae, a Fungal Endophyte of Strong Creeping Red Fescue

Festuca rubra L. subsp. rubra (strong creeping red fescue) exhibits endophyte‐mediated fungal disease resistance. Epichloë festucae Leuchtm., Schardl & M.R. Siegel, the fungal endophyte of F. rubra subsp. rubra, produces an abundant transcript encoding a potential secreted antifungal protein. The objective of this work was to confirm the presence of the antifungal protein in the apoplastic proteins and to express it in the yeast Pichia pastoris for future tests for activity against turfgrass fungal pathogens.