First Report of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Causing Leaf Blight of Platanus × acerifolia in China
Congkai Zhao, Hui Yuan, Chao Li, Shimin Ding, Cuicui WangABSTRACT
In July 2024, a leaf blight disease was observed on Platanus × acerifolia in Shandong Province, China. Symptoms appeared as necrotic lesions at leaf margins, gradually expanding inward and causing leaf scorch. Morphological characteristics placed the isolated fungus within the Colletotrichum gloeosporioides species complex. Molecular identification based on ITS, ACT , CHS‐1 , TUB2 and GAPDH sequences showed 99.25%–100% similarity with C. gloeosporioides reference strains. Koch's postulates were fulfilled through pathogenicity tests using three inoculation methods on adult trees, potted seedlings and detached leaves. Based on our investigation, this is the first report of C. gloeosporioides causing leaf blight on P. × acerifolia in China.