Drechslera is common in our outdoor air samples. However, the genera, Bipolaris and Drechslera, are closely related and it can be difficult to distinguish between spores of the two. Therefore, we typically group them together on our reports. If grown in culture, the genera can be separated and speciated. 

 

On common laboratory media, their colonies can be grey, brown, or blackish brown, hairy and/or velvety; though in natural habitats, the colony appearance may vary. 

 

Drechslera is pathogenic to grasses and a saprobe on dead plant material.  In humans, it has been known to trigger bronchial asthma and allergic sinusitis.  Additionally, in immuno-compromised cattle, there have been cases of helminthosporosis which is chronic colonization of the fungi leading to lesions in the brain.  Also, Drechslera maydis was implicated in the southern corn blight of 1970 when its mycotoxin disrupted the membranes and reduced photosynthesis of a particular corn species.

 

 

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