Background
Sarocladium species are frequently associated with grasses as saprobes, parasites, and mutualistic endophytes. A species of Sarocladium (anamorphic Hypocreales) was isolated as endophytic fungus from the coastal grass Spinifex littoreus (Poaceae).
Results
According to characterization by LSU and ITS rDNA sequences and culture morphology and micromorphology, the species differed from the species hitherto described in Sarocladium. A key to the known species of Sarocladium is given.
Conclusions
Sarocladium spinificis is proposed as a new species. LSU rDNA sequences and conidiophore branching and conidium size are useful characters for distinguishing between species of Sarocladium.