A neurotoxin has been produced by inoculating a cell culture of endosperm from Lolium multfmum with Corynebacterium rathayi. In laboratory tests, this toxin is indistinguishable from that occurring in the disease known as annual ryegrass toxicity. In this disease, nematodes (Anguina sp.) induce the replacement of seeds of ryegrass by galls. If the galls are colonised by C. rathayi they become toxic, and frequently fatal to grazing animals. Our results show that nematodes, and secondary organisms other than C. rathayi, are not essential for the production of a toxin. This in vitro method of production should assist further attempts to identify the toxic principle.

Effect of Soil Moisture on Decline of Pinus radiata