Alternaria alternata

Biology

Spots

Eriobotrya

Leaf spot

Botany

Fungus

Japonica

Microbiology

Horticulture

Pathogenicity

Inoculation

Fruit rot

Australasian Plant Disease Notes

In 2011, a leaf spot and fruit rot disease was observed on loquat trees (Eriobotrya japonica) in Thessaloniki, Greece. The pathogen was identified as Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl. on the basis of morphology and ITS sequencing. A pathogenicity test was performed and Koch's postulates were confirmed by re-isolation of the fungus A. alternata from artificially inoculated leaves and fruits. This is the first report of A. alternata as the cause of leaf spots and fruit rot on loquat in Greece.

Alternaria alternata causes leaf spot and fruit rot on loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) in Greece