First report of leaf spot disease caused by Botryosphaeria dothidea on Ophiopogon japonicus in China

Abstract

Ophiopogon japonicus has been extensively grown for ornamental and medicinal purpose in China. In October 2023, the leaf spot symptoms of O. japonicus were observed, which appeared as brown lesions and yellow halos on the tip of the leaves, accompanied by the occurrence of pycnidia on more mature lesions. The fungal pathogen was isolated from the infected leaves of O. japonicus, which was identified to be Botryosphaeria dothidea through morphological features and molecular analysis involving tef1-α, ITS, and tub2 genes. Pathogenicity tests were conducted by inoculating O. japonicus leaves with mycelial plugs and conidia suspensions of B. dothidea. Appearing symptoms were similar to those observed in the field. The pathogen was reisolated and identity was reaffirmed based on its morphological and molecular traits. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of leaf spot disease induced by B. dothidea on O. japonicus in China.