Comparative Transcriptomics Profiling of Perennial Ryegrass Infected with Wild Type or a Δ velA Epichloë festucae Mutant Reveals Host Processes Underlying Mutualistic versus Antagonistic Interactions

species form bioprotective endophytic symbioses with many cool-season grasses, including agriculturally important forage grasses. Despite its importance, relatively little is known about the molecular details of the interaction and the regulatory genes involved. VelA is a key global regulator in fungal secondary metabolism and development. In previous studies, we showed the requirement of for to form a mutualistic interaction with . We showed that VelA regulates the expression of genes encoding proteins involved in membrane transport, fungal cell wall biosynthesis, host cell wall degradation, and secondary metabolism, along with several small-secreted proteins in . Here, by a comparative transcriptomics analysis on perennial ryegrass seedlings and mature plants, which are endophyte free or infected with wild type (mutualistic interaction) or mutant Δ (antagonistic or incompatible interaction), regulatory effects of the endophytic interaction on perennial ryegrass development was studied. We show that Δ mutant associations influence the expression of genes involved in primary metabolism, secondary metabolism, and response to biotic and abiotic stresses compared with wild type associations, providing an insight into processes defining mutualistic versus antagonistic interactions.