Curvularia americana and Curvularia tropicalis cause leaf and crown necrosis on Bermuda grass in Italy

Abstract

Curvularia americana and C. tropicalis are described as causes of leaf and crown necroses on Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon x Cynodon transvaalensis) in Veneto, Northern Italy. These pathogens were characterized using morphological characters, and a multilocus molecular phylogenetic analysis based on the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, the partial glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gapdh) and translation elongation factor-1α (tef1-α) genes. Pathogenicity tests and the fulfilment of Koch’s postulates confirmed C. americana and C. tropicalis as foliar pathogens of Bermuda grass. This is the first report of C. americana and C. tropicalis as pathogens of Bermuda grass, and the first record these two fungi in Europe.