Ergot fungus Claviceps cynodontis found on Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) in the Americas

Abstract

Claviceps cynodontis is a widespread parasite of Cynodon spp. (Bermuda grass) in the paleotropical and subtropical regions. The sphacelial stage of ergot on Cynodon dactylon in México and Texas was identified as that of Claviceps cynodontis by comparison of conidial morphology, rDNA sequence, and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) patterns with an African isolate of this species. Sequence of internal transcribed spacers ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 of Claviceps cynodontis clustered phylogenetically with those of Claviceps maximensis, Claviceps rhynchelytri, and Claviceps sp. SG (from Setaria geniculata). This is the first record of the identification of Claviceps cynodontis in the Americas.

Keywords:

• Claviceps cynodontis
• ergot
• Bermuda grass
• random amplified polymorphic DNA
• rDNA