Leaf Blight of Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) caused by Fusarium solani

Leaf blight of kudzu ( Pueraria lobata ) was found in Jeonbuk province in 2002. The main symptoms appeared as leaf blight and showed yellowing and wilting. The causal pathogen of the leaf blight was isolated from symptomed kudzu leaf and produced white to cream, usually floccose mycelium. It readily formed reddish orange mycelium on PDA. It produced typical microconidia and macroconidia. The microconidia were the reniform. The macroconidia were wide, slightly curved, usually 3 to 4 septate and size was 45 ∼ 85 ${\times}$ 5 ∼ l0$\mu\textrm{m}$. The pathogen produced chlamydospore singly on short hyphal branches within 2 to 3 weeks, which was hyaline, globose, and smooth walled. The pathogen was, therefore, identified as Fusarium solani based on cultural and morphological characters. This is the first report on the leaf blight of kudzu caused by Fusarium solani in Korea.