NEOZYGITES PARVISPORA, A PATHOGEN OF LIMOTHRIPS SP. ASSOCIATED WITH LOLIUM-MULTIFLORUM IN OREGON

Resting spores of Neozygites parvispora, an obligate pathogen of thrip s, were found in washes from seed of cultivated annual ryegrass (Loliu m multiflorum) from Oregon. Similar spores were found in washes from s eed samples of annual ryegrass from Tennessee, wheat from Arizona and wild tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) from New Zealand. In the Oregon specimens, the resting spores were formed inside the bodies of thrips (Limothrips sp.) wedged between the palea and seed in ryegrass. The r esting spores germinated directly to produce a germ conidium on a shor t conidiophore. This is the first report of resting spore germination in N. parvispora, and the first report of the species outside of Europ e.