DFNet

June 26, 2025 | Journal of Phytopathology |

Leaf spot disease observed on durian trees in Hainan Province, China, in July 2023 was the focus of a study conducted by the Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University and China Agricultural University. The disease showed a high incidence rate of about 50% and a severity rate nearing 70%. Early symptoms included small, irregular, light grey to dark brown necrotic lesions aligned with leaf veins. As the disease progressed, lesions developed rusty necrotic centers with yellow chlorotic halos and could eventually lead to leaf death and defoliation, severely reducing photosynthetic function.

Fungal isolation from symptomatic leaves led to the identification of two species: Alternaria jacinthicola and Alternaria tomato. Morphological characteristics and multi-gene phylogenetic analysis confirmed A. jacinthicola as the predominant pathogen. Pathogenicity tests showed that A. jacinthicola could infect both durian leaves and fruits.

This is the first report of A. jacinthicola causing leaf spot disease in durian. The findings contribute to a better understanding of durian pathology and provide a scientific basis for developing future disease management strategies.

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