DOI: 10.1111/jph.70345 ISSN: 0931-1785

First Report of Leaf Spot Caused by Corynespora cassiicola on Ageratina altissima in South Korea

Jin‐Woo Park, Kyoung‐Mo Koo, Min‐Jun Ko, Hyeon‐Dong Shin, Ji‐Hyun Park

ABSTRACT

Ageratina altissima is an ecosystem‐disturbing invasive plant widely distributed in modified habitats across South Korea. In October 2025, leaf spot disease was observed on A. altissima in Bucheon and Guri, South Korea. The causal agent was identified as Corynespora cassiicola based on morphological characterization and a phylogenetic analysis of the ITS and LSU regions of the rDNA. The artificial inoculation of healthy A. altissima leaves resulted in symptom development, and the same fungus was reisolated, fulfilling Koch's postulates. This is the first global report of leaf spot caused by C. cassiicola on A. altissima .

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