Abstract
A new species of Microdochium was identified as the causal agent of leaf blight of seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum), a turf grass widely used in tropical and subtropical golf courses. In 2010 foliar necrosis and canopy thinning were observed on 11 surveyed golf courses in Hainan province, China, especially on fairways and putting greens. The infected leaves initially appeared water-soaked and dark green, rapidly faded to yellow or became chlorotic and quickly died, resulting in a sparse appearance in infected areas, leading to the disease name "sparse leaf patch." Isolates with rich and light pink to yellow mycelia and salmon-colored pionnotes were cultured from diseased turf foliage. Pathogenicity was demonstrated by inoculating these isolates onto "seaspray" seashore paspalum. Phylogenetic analysis based on the nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer 1-5.8S-internal transcribed spacer 2 region (ITS), translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1-α) and β-tubulin (BenA) indicated these isolates formed as a distinct clade within Microdochium (Xylariales). Further microscopic examination demonstrated that the species was morphologically distinct from three similar species of Microdochium. The name Microdochium paspali sp. nov. is proposed for this novel fungal pathogen.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Microdochium was identified as the cause of seashore paspalum leaf blight.
- Taxon
- seashore paspalum
Paspalum vaginatume0 - Interactor
- Microdochium
Microdochiume0pathogen - Outcome
- leaf blight of seashore paspalume0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

_Samuels_%26_I.C._Hallett_562904.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“A new species of Microdochium was identified as the causal agent of leaf blight of seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum)”
Claim · model-written summary
Foliar necrosis and canopy thinning occurred on 11 surveyed golf courses in Hainan province.
- Taxon
- seashore paspalum
Paspalum vaginatumt0 - Outcome
- foliar necrosis and canopy thinninge0
- Value
- 11 surveyed golf coursese0
- Setting
- Hainan province, Chinae0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
t0“seashore paspalum”
e0“In 2010 foliar necrosis and canopy thinning were observed on 11 surveyed golf courses in Hainan province, China”
Claim · model-written summary
Infected leaves became water-soaked and dark green, then yellow or chlorotic and died, leaving sparse patches.
- Taxon
- seashore paspalum
Paspalum vaginatumt0 - Organ / stage
- leavese0
- Outcome
- infected leaves initially appeared water-soaked and dark green, rapidly faded to yellow or became chlorotic and quickly diede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
t0“seashore paspalum”
e0“The infected leaves initially appeared water-soaked and dark green, rapidly faded to yellow or became chlorotic and quickly died, resulting in a sparse appearance in infected areas”
Claim · model-written summary
The isolates caused disease after inoculation onto seaspray seashore paspalum.
- Taxon
- seashore paspalum
Paspalum vaginatume0 - Material
- seaspraye0
- Treatment
- inoculating these isolatese0
- Interactor
- Microdochium
Microdochiume1pathogen - Outcome
- Pathogenicitye0
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

_Samuels_%26_I.C._Hallett_562904.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“Pathogenicity was demonstrated by inoculating these isolates onto "seaspray" seashore paspalum”
e1“A new species of Microdochium was identified as the causal agent”
Claim · model-written summary
Phylogenetic analysis placed the isolates in a distinct Microdochium clade.
- Taxon
- seashore paspalum
Paspalum vaginatumt0 - Interactor
- Microdochium
Microdochiume0pathogen - Outcome
- distinct clade within Microdochium (Xylariales)e0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

_Samuels_%26_I.C._Hallett_562904.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
t0“seashore paspalum”
e0“these isolates formed as a distinct clade within Microdochium (Xylariales)”
Claim · model-written summary
Microscopy distinguished the species from three similar Microdochium species.
- Taxon
- seashore paspalum
Paspalum vaginatumt0 - Interactor
- Microdochium
Microdochiume0pathogen - Outcome
- morphologically distinct from three similar species of Microdochiume0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

_Samuels_%26_I.C._Hallett_562904.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
t0“seashore paspalum”
e0“the species was morphologically distinct from three similar species of Microdochium”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors propose the name Microdochium paspali for the new fungal pathogen.
- Taxon
- seashore paspalum
Paspalum vaginatumt0 - Interactor
- Microdochium paspaliMicrodochium paspalie0pathogen
- Outcome
- Microdochium paspali sp. nov.e0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
t0“seashore paspalum”
e0“The name Microdochium paspali sp. nov. is proposed for this novel fungal pathogen”