Characterization of Alternaria spp. causing leaf spot on Black Chokeberry (Aronia Melanocarpa)

Abstract

Black chokeberry (Aronia Melanacarpa) is cold-hardy and deciduous shrub under the Rosacea family, coming into bloom in the spring. It can grow up to 2-3 m tall, which produce dark purplish Blackberries (Kulling et al., 2008). In August 2014, leaf spot symptoms on Black Chokeberry (Aronia Melanocarpa) were observed in Korean farm as Danyang-Gun, Gimje-Si and Gochang-Gun. It appeared as a circle or as an irregular brown spot, and Alternaria spp. was isolated from the infected leaves. Isolates were used to analyze for morphological characteristics, Pathogenicity Test and Phylogenetic tree.