Bipolaris maydis (Y. Nisik. & C. Miyake) Shoemaker was consistently isolated from elephantgrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) showing leaf spot symptoms in the Cerrado of Central Brazil in 2005 and 2006. Pathogenicity tests, under greenhouse conditions, and subsequent re-isolation of B. maydis from artificially infected elephant grass seedlings confirmed that this fungus was the causal agent of the disease. First symptoms of leaf spot appeared two days after inoculation. Eleven other grass species proved to be susceptible to the fungus.
Cochliobolus heterostrophus; Pennisetum purupureum; leaf spot; forage grass
