Fungal diversity associated with cherry leaf spot in Yantai city, Shandong province, China

Abstract

Cherry leaf spot disease causes yield and economic loss in many cherry-growing areas. In 2023, a field survey on cherry leaf spot was carried out in Yantai city, Shandong province, and 106 fungal isolates were obtained from randomly sampled diseased leaves. Based on morphological observations and molecular phylogenetic analysis, the fungal isolates were classified into 11 species, including Colletotrichum aenigma (32.08 %), Colletotrichum siamense (11.32 %), Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (10.38 %), Alternaria alternata/tenuissima species complex (31.14 %), Fusarium lateritium (4.72 %), Fusarium verticillioides (2.84 %), Nothophoma quercina (1.88 %), Clonostachys rosea (1.88 %), Epicoccum nigrum (1.88 %), Nigrospora oryzae (0.94 %), and Diaporthe sojae (0.94 %). Among these, Colletotrichum spp. was the most dominant genus. All isolates exhibited the ability to infect cherry leaves, with E. nigrum displaying the highest virulence and Cl. rosea the lowest. Symptoms on potted seedlings following artificial inoculation closely resembled those observed in field-grown plants under natural infection. All other isolates, except Cl. rosea, showed pathogenicity on cherry fruits. Notably, Ni. oryzae and Cl. rosea represent the first reports of leaf spot disease in sweet cherry. This study systematically investigated cherry leaf spot disease, providing valuable insights into the pathogenic factors responsible for the disease. Furthermore, this study also provides a solid theoretical basis for the formulation of field control strategies for cherry leaf spot disease.