The fungal genus Cochliobolus includes 19 species, it includes some plant pathogenic species such as Cochliobolus heterostrophus. A lot of former Cochliobolus species were transferred to either Curvularia or Bipolaris genera. Cochliobolus heterostrophus is known from "southern corn blight" which affects corn and maize.

Heterothallism and homothallism

Those fungi that need a partner to mate are referred to as heterothallic (self-sterile), and those fungi not needing a partner are referred to as homothallic (self-fertile). A study of DNA sequences of mating type loci from different heterothallic and homothallic species in the genus Cochliobolus suggests that homothallism can be derived from heterothallism by recombination.

Species

As accepted by Species Fungorum; Former species (all within Pleosporaceae family);