Alternaria alternata causing brown spot on kiwiberry (Actinidia arguta) in China

• Published in: Crop protection Vol. 152; p. 105857
• Main Authors: Ruan, Ruoxin, Xi, Dujun, Zhang, Chen, Huang, Kangkang, Luo, Huifeng, Liu, Hui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2022
• Subjects: Actinidia arguta; Alternaria alternata; brown spot; brown spot; Actinidia arguta; Alternaria alternata
• ISSN: 0261-2194; 1873-6904
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cropro.2021.105857

Kiwiberry (Actinidia arguta), originating from northeast Asia, is a new fruit product. Since 2018, fruits of kiwiberry showing brown spots were observed in orchards of Zhejiang Province, China. Disease symptoms started from the initial stage of fruit development. The brown spots on young fruits extended as the fruits developed. The fungus strain isolated from the affected fruits was preliminarily identified as Alternaria species according to morphological characteristics. Further molecular identification based on a multi-locus phylogenetic analysis comprised of partial sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA region, endopolygalacturonase (endoPG) gene, major allergen (Alta1) gene, and 28S ribosomal RNA (LSU) gene verified that the fungus is Alternaria alternata. The pathogenicity of the isolated fungus was confirmed by artificial inoculation. The present identification constitutes the first report of A. alternata as the causal agent of brown spot on kiwiberry in China. •Brown spot were observed on kiwiberry (Actinidia arguta) in China.•The causal agent of this disease was confirmed as Alternaria alternata.•This is the first report of brown spot caused by Alternaria alternata on Actinidia arguta in China.