First Report of Kiwifruit Brown Leaf Spot Caused by Fusarium tricinctum in South Korea

Abstract

Kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis Planch.) is an economically important horticultural crop. Thisstudy reports a new pathogen of brown leaf spot disease in kiwifruit. Brown leaf spot symptomswere observed on the leaves of cv. Redvita in Jeju, South Korea. The leaf spot diseasesappeared as extensive, angular, brown, yellow, white or fused color spots on the leaves. Fungiwere isolated and identified as Fusarium tricinctum (Corda) Sacc. based on their morphologicaland molecular characteristics. Pathogenicity tests were conducted with mycelium and the conidiainoculation. The pathogen was re-isolated from the artificially developed symptoms, and identifiedas F. tricinctum as Koch’s postulates were confirmed. To our knowledge, this is the first reportof the brown leaf spot caused by F. tricinctum on kiwifruit.