• Fungal colonies showing similar morphology were observed from all the isolated samples and, in total, eight fungal strains were obtained. (bvsalud.org)
  • On PDA, fungal colonies were initially white, and later become light gray. (bvsalud.org)
  • The identification of Alternaria species based on morphological criteria applied to colonies and spores remains a challenging task (Maraite et al. (croptrust.org)
  • Phomopsis blight of juniper is a foliar disease discovered in 1917 caused by the fungal pathogen Phomopsis juniperovora. (wikipedia.org)
  • Alternaria leaf blight primarily occurs in South Asia, where Alternaria triticina was first identified and considered to be causing foliar blight. (croptrust.org)
  • Infection begins with the germination of asexual conidia, borne from pycnidia, on susceptible tissue, the mycelia gradually move inwards down the branch, and into the main stem. (wikipedia.org)
  • Symptoms initially appeared as small brown spots on the leaf surface or edges, gradually enlarged, becoming oval, and bearing chlorotic lesions with dark brown borders. (bvsalud.org)
  • Phomopsis blight of juniper only infects young, succulent tissue such as immature leaves or branches. (wikipedia.org)
  • Although spores from diseased juniper plants infect healthy hosts in the fall, symptoms are usually not seen until late winter or early spring. (wikipedia.org)
  • Although the observation of symptoms is the first step in identification of this pathogen, the presence of both alpha and beta spores in the pycnidium must be verified in order to confirm the existence of P. juniperova. (wikipedia.org)
  • Symptoms initially showed as small, brown water-soaked spots on the leaf surface or margins, and enlarged to irregular, dark brown or black, necrotic lesions, with a lighter center and darker edge. (bvsalud.org)
  • Infection usually starts on the lower leaves, but symptoms can be found on all plant parts. (croptrust.org)
  • Alpha spores are spherical spores active in host infection while beta spores, are long, narrow, stylospores, which do not play a part in disease contagion. (wikipedia.org)
  • Within 3 weeks of infection P. juniperovora can produce viable spores for reinfection, however, pycnidia formation is most common on dying shoots. (wikipedia.org)
  • High humidity or irrigation, as well as warmer temperatures (20 to 25°C), favor infection and disease development. (croptrust.org)
  • At latter, lesions extended to most of the leaf surface causing leaf scorch or wilting. (bvsalud.org)
  • At a later stage, the lesions coalesce, covering large areas of the leaf and sometimes causing plant death (Prabhu and Prasada 1966). (croptrust.org)
  • 2010), and this disease might seriously influence the S. plumbizincicola seedling breeding, identification of the pathogen might provide a foundation for the diagnosis and control of the disease. (bvsalud.org)
  • During wet, rainy periods, the conidia are released from the pycnidia and spread to uninfected tissue via rain splash. (wikipedia.org)
  • Sporulation on lower leaves provides inoculum that can be dispersed by wind, leading to secondary spread of the disease. (croptrust.org)
  • If the resources for this method of diagnosis are not available, contact a local extension office to be directed to an expert in plant pathogens or a laboratory that can assist with the process. (wikipedia.org)
  • Beta spores are rarely found in the wild, but proliferate when P. juniperova is grown on cultures of potato dextrose agar. (wikipedia.org)
  • The disease is common in the eastern and central areas of the Asian subcontinent. (croptrust.org)
  • New shoots that are normally yellow-green in color begin to turn to red brown and then ashen gray as they slowly die from the fungal disease. (wikipedia.org)
  • Areas with heavy shade and poor drainage allow for moist, slow drying areas for the disease to thrive in. (wikipedia.org)