Fusarium Wilt of Korean Blackberry Caused by Fusarium cugenangense

Wilt symptoms were frequently observed in Korean blackberry (Rubus coreanus) plants grown in farmers’ fields located in Gochang and Jeongeup, Jeonbuk Province, Korea during disease surveys in July 2020. The disease occurred in 10 of the 13 fields surveyed in the two locations. The incidence of diseased plants in the fields was 5-80%. Seven isolates of Fusarium sp. were obtained from the diseased plants and examined for their morphological and molecular characteristics. All the isolates belonged to Fusarium oxysporum species complex based on the morphological characteristics but were identified as F. cugenangense based on the molecular characteristics. Two isolates of F. cugenangense were tested for pathogenicity on Korean blackberry plants by artificial inoculation. Pathogenicity of the two isolates on the plants was confirmed with the inoculation tests, which showed wilt symptoms similar to those observed in the diseased plants in the fields investigated. This is the first report of F. cugenangense causing Fusarium wilt in Korean blackberry.