Bipolaris yamadae causes foliage blight of Digitaria insularis in Brazil.

During a survey of the mycobiota of sourgrass (Digitaria insularis), a graminaceous weed from Brazil, severe foliage blight symptoms were observed on plants at different places of the state of Minas Gerais. A fungus identified as Bipolaris yamadae, after a polyphasic study, including analysis of ITS, GPDH and TEF-1α genes, was isolated from diseased tissues. Pathogenicity to sourgrass was confirmed through inoculations of healthy plants. This is the first report of B. yamadae causing foliage blight on D. insularis in Brazil and worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]