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.