| Summary: | <i>Achnatherum sibiricum</i> can be infected by two species of fungal endophytes, <i>Epichloë</i> <i>gansuensis</i> (Eg) and <i>Epichloë</i> <i>sibirica</i> (Es). In this study, the metabolites of Eg, Es, and their infected plants were studied by GC–MS analysis. The results showed that the metabolic profiles of Eg and Es were similar in general, and only six differential metabolites were detected. The direct effect of endophyte infection on the metabolites in <i>A. sibiricum</i> was that endophyte-infected plants could produce mannitol, which was not present in uninfected plants. <i>Epichloë</i> infection indirectly caused an increase in the soluble sugars in <i>A. sibiricum</i> related to growth and metabolites related to the defense against pathogens and herbivores, such as α-tocopherol, α-linolenic acid and aromatic amino acids. <i>Epichloë</i> infection could regulate galactose metabolism, starch and sucrose metabolism, tyrosine metabolism and phenylalanine metabolism of host grass. In addition, there was a significant positive correlation in the metabolite contents between the endophyte and the host.
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