First report of Muyocopron laterale causing a new leaf disease of Camellia sinensis in China

Abstract

Tea plant ( Camellia sinensis ) diseases are one of the factors that reduce tea production yield and quality. Herein, a new leaf disease of tea plants was observed in tea plantations. A representative isolate was obtained from diseased leaf by the traditional fungus separation method. The isolate identified was confirmed as Muyocopron laterale based on morphological and molecular results and phylogenetic tree analysis. Pathogenicity tests were conducted on tea plant seedlings, and which is fulfilling Koch’s postulates. The disease was first identified in C. sinensis leaves caused by M. laterale in China. In the future, the results of this studies will enrich our knowledge and help control tea leaf disease. new