DILOPHOSPORA ALOPECURI ON LOLIUM-RIGIDUM AND HOLCUS-LANATUS IN SOUTH-EASTERN AUSTRALIA

The Anguina-vectored, plant pathogenic fungus, Dilophospora alopecuri, was collected at 41 of 156 sites examined in south-eastern Australia in the summer of 1995. D. alopecuri was found in Lolium rigidum in som e areas of South Australia where populations of Anguina funesta/Clavib acter toxicus have resulted in outbreaks of annual ryegrass toxicity ( ARGT) in livestock. The fungus was abundant in L. rigidum, in western Victoria where A. funesta is common but ARGT outbreaks have not occurr ed. Infected Holcus lanatus was also collected in South Australia, Vic toria and New South Wales. The significance of the findings for D. alo pecuri as a naturally occurring and actively disseminated antagonist o f C. toxicus is discussed.