Identification and Characterization of Gonatobotryum apiculatum CausingLeaf Spot and Blight on Sinowilsonia henryi

ABSTRACT

Sinowilsonia henryi is a rare and endangered plant, as well as an endemic species in China.In July 2018, leaf spot and blight disease was observed on S. henryi in Yichang, Hubei,China. A fungus isolated from disease tissues was identified as Gonatobotryum apiculatumbased on morphology and sequence analyses of ITS and LSU regions. Phylogenetic analysesindicated that the species belongs to Dothioraceae (Dothideales). Morphologically, the speciesproduced two distinct types of conidia from authentic media, both conidia weredescribed here. Pathogenicity tests showed that the fungus is a pathogen causing leaf spotson S. henryi. This is the first report of leaf spot and blight disease on S. henryi caused byG. apiculatum in China.