Etymology
The genus ''Pyricularia'' is named after the pyriform (pear-shaped) shape of its Conidium, conidia.Pathogenicity
The genus ''Pyricularia'' includes species that are pathogenic on a wide range of Monocotyledon, monocot plants. For example, ''Pyricularia oryzae'' (sexual morph ''Magnaporthe oryzae''), the causal agent of the rice blast disease, is one of the most widely distributed diseases of rice, and is highly destructive leading to up to 30% yield loss worldwide. ''Pyricularia oryzae'' isolates from Oryza sativa, rice are mostly host-specific and infect only few host plants beside Oryza sativa, rice (barley and ''Lolium''). ''Pyricularia oryzae'' isolates from other host plants such as ''Eleusine'', ''Setaria'' and ''Wheat, Triticum'' are also host-specific, and unable to infect rice. The closely related species ''P. oryzae'' and ''Pyricularia grisea'' are indistinguishable in morphology of conidium, perithecium and ascopore. ''Pyricularia grisea'' isolates from ''Digitaria'' were shown to form a distinct clade by Phylogenetics, phylogenetic analysis and infect Digitaria, crabgrass (''Digitaria''), but not other hosts. However, some ''P. oryzae'' isolates from rice and other grasses and some ''P. grisea'' isolates from crabgrass were described to show cross-infectivity on crabgrass and rice, respectively.Sexual morphs
Teleomorph, anamorph and holomorph, Sexual morphs were reported for ''P. grisea'' and ''P. oryzae''. The genus ''Pyricularia'' comprises several other species for which the sexual morph has not yet been discovered.Species
*''Pyricularia angulata'' *''Pyricularia apiculata'' *''Pyricularia borealis'' *''Pyricularia buloloensis'' *''Pyricularia caffra'' *''Pyricularia cannae'' *''Pyricularia cannicola'' *''Pyricularia caricis'' *''Pyricularia commelinicola'' *''Pyricularia costi'' *''Pyricularia costina'' *''Pyricularia curcumae'' *''Pyricularia cyperi'' *''Pyricularia didyma'' *''Pyricularia digitariae'' *''Pyricularia distorta'' *''Pyricularia dubiosa'' *''Pyricularia ebbelsii'' *''Pyricularia echinochloae'' *''Pyricularia euphorbiae'' *''Pyricularia fusispora'' *''Pyricularia globbae'' *''Pyricularia grisea'' *''Pyricularia guarumaicola'' *''Pyricularia juncicola'' *''Pyricularia kookicola'' *''Pyricularia lauri'' *''Pyricularia leersiae'' *''Pyricularia longispora'' *''Pyricularia lourinae'' *''Pyricularia luzulae'' *''Pyricularia occidentalis'' *''Pyricularia oncosperma'' *''Pyricularia oryzae'' *''Pyricularia panici-paludosi'' *''Pyricularia parasitica'' *''Pyricularia penniseti'' *''Pyricularia peruamazonica'' *''Pyricularia pyricularioides'' *''Pyricularia rabaulensis'' *''Pyricularia sansevieriae'' *''Pyricularia scripta'' *''Pyricularia setariae'' *''Pyricularia sphaerulata'' *''Pyricularia submersa'' *''Pyricularia subsigmoidea'' *''Pyricularia vandalurensis'' *''Pyricularia variabilis'' *''Pyricularia whetzelii'' *''Pyricularia zingiberis'' *''Pyricularia zizaniicola''Taxonomy
''Conidia'' are solitary, pyriform to obclavate, narrowed toward tip, rounded at the base, 2-septate, hyaline to pale brown, with a distinct basal hilum, sometimes with marginal frill. Type species: ''Pyricularia grisea'' Sacc., Michelia 2(no. 6): 20. 1880.Family
Species of ''Pyricularia s. str.'' belong to a Monophyly, monophyletic clade that includes ''P. oryzae/P. grisea'' isolates, and was defined as Pyriculariaceae. Pyriculariaceae is sister to the Ophioceraceae, representing two novel families. These clades are clearly distinct from species belonging to the ''Gaeumannomyces pro parte/Magnaporthiopsis/Nakataea'' generic complex that are monophyletic and define the family Magnaporthaceae.References
External links
* {{Authority control Sordariomycetes genera Magnaporthales