Confirmation of taxonomic status of an Epichloë species on Brachypodium sylvaticum in Japan

Epichloë fungi were isolated from Brachypodium sylvaticum with or without symptoms of choke disease collected at five sites in Japan. The morphological characteristics of the fungi corresponded to the description of Epichloë sylvatica. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that isolates derived from surface-sterilized tillers and single ascospores from stroma on its hosts were included in the same clade with those identified as E. sylvatica. In Japan, to date, Epichloë fungi causing choke disease on B. sylvaticum were listed only as Epichloë typhina. We confirmed that both stroma-forming and symptomless endophytes inhabiting B. sylvaticum in Japan are E. sylvatica, not E. typhina.