• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.131-136
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• 2007

Occurrence of popcorn disease on mulberry fruits was surveyed in several locations in Korea from 2005 to 2007. The diseased fruits turned grayish white and changed to hard and black sclerotia during overwintering after falling onto the ground. Apothecia produced from overwintered sclerotia in the fields of mulberry trees were observed in early May. Two types of apothecia were produced from the sclerotia, which were cup-shaped or club-shaped. The fungus with cup-shaped apothecia was identified as Ciboria shiraiana, and that with club-shaped apothecia as Scleromitrula shiraiana. C. shiraiana occurred at the ratio of about 6 vs. 4 in the fields. Occurrence of the disease differed remarkably depending on years, locations, and varieties of mulberry trees investigated. Field survey of the disease incidence showed that Baekhahyeongsang, Dahojosaeng, Hasusang, a native variety and Sawonppong 22 were resistant to the disease, Cheongilppong, Daeseongppong, Guksang 20 and Turkey-D were moderately susceptible, and Cateneo, Moreji and Sanggwa were highly susceptible. Disease incidence in the fields mulched with nonwoven fabrics or plastic films was much lower than that in the non-mulched fields. Disease incidence in the fields mulched with rice straws was similar to that in the non-mulched fields.