Turfgrass Pest Management Category 3A Practice Test

Endophyte-containing grasses show a plant’s defensive capability against herbivores, which is a resistance trait of the plant. The fungal endophyte inside the grass produces alkaloids and other compounds that deter feeding or harm pests, giving the plant an inherent ability to resist damage from herbivores. This is not about a physical barrier like a tough leaf surface, nor about using another organism to control pests (biological control), and while the deterrents are chemical, the overall effect is best described as plant resistance—the plant’s protective trait enhanced by the endophyte.