A new Claviceps species that causes ergot in sorghum and Sudan grass in Japan is described. The new species is distinct from C.
sorghi and C. africana, from India and Africa, respectively, in the colour and texture of sclerotia, colour and morphology of stromata
arising from the sclerotia, and size of ascospores and conidia. The pathogen infected only Sorghum in inoculation tests using 11
gramineous plants. Hyphal growth of C. sorghicola was 1 mm d−1
on PDA at 25 °C. Production of a different ergoline alkaloid in the
sclerotia was suggested.