Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Pseudocercospora chionanthi-retusi Causing Leaf Spot on Chionanthus retusus in Korea

Leaves of Chionanthus retusus were found to be damaged by leaf spot disease associated with a fungus in Iksan, Korea. Leaf spots were angular to irregular, vein-limited, scattered, 1–8 mm diameter, brownish-gray to dark brown when dry, with heavy fructification. The pathogen causes premature defoliation of C. retusus plant and was identified as Pseudocercospora chionanthi-retusi based on morphological and molecular-phylogenetic analyses. The phylogenetic tree was constructed using multi-locus DNA sequence data of partial actin (actA), partial translation elongation factor 1-alfa (ef1A), partial DNA-directed RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (rpb2) genes, and internal transcribed spacer regions. Current study provides detail morphological description of P. chionanthi-retusi on C. retusus in Korea, with supports of phylogenetic analysis and pathogenicity test.