New finding of the Phoma leaf spot of the varnish tree (Koelreuteria paniculata) in Himachal Pradesh.

A new foliar disease of Koelreuteria paniculata tree is reported during continuous surveys conducted at Solan district of Himachal Pradesh during August, 2015 to December, 2015. On the basis of morphological characteristics the fungus, the fungus was identified as Phoma eupyrena which produces symptoms on the leaves as numerous small, pale, irregular spots which are light brown with dark black margins and blightening appearance at the apex region initially. Phoma eupyrena form pycnidia, whose range varied between 240-250 μm in diameter and conidia are hyaline, short, cylindrical, mostly straight and unicellular. Conidial size ranged between 3-6 × 1.5-3 μm.