Leaf Blight of Kiwifruit Caused by Pestalotiopsis menezesiana (Bress. & Torr.) Bissett and Its Ecopathology

Pestalotiopsis menezesiana에 의한 참다래 잎마름병과 발생생태

Etiological and ecopathological studi88888es on the leaf blight of kiwifruit (Chinese gooseberry), a disease newly found in 1993 in Korea, were carried out in this experiment. The leaf blight symptom was prevalent in the southern area of Chonnam Province where kiwifruits were widely cultivated. The disease occurred from July to fall, causing early defoliation of kiwifruit vines. Small brownish circular or irregular lesions appeared initially on the leaves, starting from the marginal leaf areas, and enlarged. Afterwards small grayish black granules (acervuli) were formed on the lesions. The color of old lesions changed to grayish brown or grayish white. The causal fungus was identified as Pestalotiopsis menezesiana (Bress. & Torr.) Bissett according to its morphological characters and pathogenicity (pathogenic to Chinese gooseberry and grapevine, but not to other hosts of Pestalotiopsis spp.such as tea, apple, persimmon, and chestnut). As P. longiseta and P. neglecta were reported recently in Japan as pathogens causing similar blight symptoms in kiwifruit, P. menezesiana is a new leaf blight pathogen in kiwifruit. Development of the disease was stimulated by wounding, prevailing wind, and drought. The causal fungus was proven to be overwintered in the diseased leaves on the ground surface.