Unreported post-harvest disease of apples caused by plenodomus collinsoniae in korea

This study was conducted to isolate and identify the fungal pathogen caused unreported post-harvest disease on apples (cv. Fuji) fruit in Korea. The disease symptoms on apples appeared as irregular, light to dark brown, slightly sunken spots. The three fungal strains were isolated from infected tissues of apple fruits and their cultural and morphological characteristics were completely consistent with those of Plenodomus collinsoniae. The phylogenetic analysis using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, beta-tubulin (TUB ), and the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB 2) sequences revealed the closest relationship of the isolates with Plenodomus collinsoniae at the species level. The pathogenicity test showed the same dark brown spots on Fuji apple cultivar. Therefore, P. collinsoniae is a newly reported fungal agent causing post-harvest disease on apples in Korea.