First Report ofStemphylium lycopersiciCausing Leaf Spot onSansevieria trifasciatain Malaysia

Abstract

Sansevieria trifasciata is widely planted in Malaysia as an indoor or outdoor ornamental plant. In June 2016, several S. trifasciata plants exhibiting symptoms of leaf spots were observed and collected from outdoor planting in Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia. Disease severity and incidence were estimated at 25% and 30% (total of 30 plants), respectively. The lesions began as circular brown spots which gradually enlarged, forming oval to irregular chlorotic lesions with reddish- brown borders on the leaves. As the disease progressed, the center of the lesions became sunken and dry. Symptomatic leaf segments (~1 cm2) were surface sterilized in 10% bleach (1% sodium hypochlorite) for 3 minutes, placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and incubated at 28°C for 3 to 5 days with a 12-h photoperiod. Fungal mycelia growing from the edges of the leaf segments were transferred onto PDA prior to obtaining pure cultures using a single spore isolation technique. Two isolates were recovered from the sympto...