Gaeumannomyces graminis var. graminis. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].
Abstract A description is provided for Gaeumannomyces graminis var. graminis. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: Gramineae (in nature on Oryza, Pennisetum, Stenotaphrum, Triticum and possibly others including Axonopus, Chloris and Cynodon; artificially infecting Avena); also said to overwinter on sheaths of Typha latifolia (Tullis, 1951). Due to possible confusion between this fungus and G. graminis var. tritici, the host ranges of both need more detailed study. DISEASE: Crown sheath rot of rice (Ou, 1972) sometimes called brown (or black) sheath rot and Arkansas foot rot. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Probably widespread: reported from Australia (NSW), Central African Republic, French Equatorial Africa, India, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan (Ou, 1972), Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sweden (Nilsson, 1972), Tanzania, USA (Ark., La., Texas). TRANSMISSION: Presumably soil-borne. The part played by ascospores in spreading the fungus is not known. It is carried on roots, stolons and leaf sheaths of several grasses. There is one report of possible spread with seed (42, 727; 47, 3058).