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Three New Records of Pathogens Causing Stem Blight on Vaccinium corymbosum in China

Summary

Researchers in China identified three new fungal species causing stem blight disease in blueberry crops. These fungi infect blueberry stems, causing brown lesions that kill the shoots and leaves. Laboratory tests confirmed all three fungi can cause the disease, with one species being particularly aggressive. This research helps farmers understand and manage this economically important disease that damages 10-25% of China’s blueberry crops.

Background

Stem blight is a significant disease affecting blueberries worldwide, causing substantial economic losses. In China, the disease incidence ranges from 10-25% of crop damage, with various fungal pathogens identified as causal agents. This study investigates newly emerging pathogens causing stem blight in blueberry orchards in Jilin Province, China.

Objective

To identify and characterize fungal pathogens isolated from diseased blueberry stems using morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses. The study aims to expand knowledge on newly emerging pathogens associated with stem blight disease and contribute to understanding of fungal diversity affecting blueberries.

Results

Three fungal species were identified: Colletotrichum temperatum, Curvularia austriaca, and Diaporthe unshiuensis. All three caused necrotic lesions with dark brown margins on inoculated shoots, with D. unshiuensis showing the most aggressive pathogenicity (3.08 cm lesions). These represent three new host-pathogen records for blueberry stem blight.

Conclusion

The study documents three new fungal pathogens causing stem blight on cultivated blueberries in China, with Diaporthe unshiuensis identified as the most virulent pathogen. Further investigation is needed to determine whether these pathogens become dominant in disease prevalence and their interactions with different blueberry cultivars.
  • Published in:Plants (Basel),
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: PMID: 40094532, DOI: 10.3390/plants14050647
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