• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.321-327
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• 2018

In 2018, symptoms of black rot on apple (Malus pumila var. dulcissima KOIDZ) cv. Fuji were observed in Yeongcheon-si, Korea. The fruit decay symptoms consisted of purple pimples spots, black rot around the seed cavity (calyx end), mummified fruit. To isolate the causal agent, small fragment (2 to 3 mm) of decayed tissue from the lesion margin were placed on WA or PDA. Fungal colonies on PDA produced dense white aerial mycelium, becoming dark gray with age. Pycnidia and conidia were observed under a light microscopy. The shapes of conidia were aseptate, ovoid, rounded at both ends, and $21.7-28.3{\times}9.9-15.3{\mu}m$. Based on morphological and cultural characteristics, this fungus was identified as Diplodia seriata. To confirm its identity, two loci (ITS and ${\beta}$-tubulin) were sequenced for molecular identification. BLAST searches indicated 100% identity with D. seriata. A pathogenicity test was conducted with isolates on Fuji apples. The apples were inoculated with mycelial plugs (5 mm) from 7-day-old cultures of the putative pathogens. All inoculated apples developed rot symptoms identical to the original symptoms, from which D. seriata were reisolated, fulfilling Koch's postulates. This study is the first report of black rot caused Diplodia seriata on apple.