Studies on the Pear Abnormal Leaf Spot Disease - 2. Identification of Causal Agent -

배나무잎 이상반점증상에 관한 연구 - 2. 원인구명 -

Alternaria spp.were predominantly isolated from the abnormal leaf spot lesions of pear cultivars Niitaka and Nijiiseiki. Alternaria isolates from the cultivar Niitaka were not pathogenic to both cultivars, but the isolates from the cultivar Nijiiseiki developed typical lesions of black leaf spots and were identified as A. kikuchiana. However, no typical abnormal leaf spot lesions were produced by the Alternaria isolates. Foliar spray of twelve different agrochemicals including lime sulfur, either alone or in combinations, with 7 times applications from April to July failed to reduced the disease development. Application of 17 different pesticides including fungicides, insecticides and herbicides currently used in pear orchards did not cause leaf injury similar to the abnormal leaf spot. Simulated acid rain of as low as pH 3.0 did not incite any leaf lesions alike the abnormal spot lesions. Mineral contents in the leaves of both cultivars did not differ significantly between the healthy leaves and those with abnormal leaf spots. When cuttings of pear tree were obtained in February from newly emerged twigs of the healthy or the diseased trees of Niitaka and planted in sand in the greenhouse, only those from the diseased trees developed typical leaf lesions of the abnormal spot. These results indicate that abnormal leaf spots are caused by unknown systemic agents in pear trees, rather than by Alternaria spp., chemical injury or acid rain.