Asian Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology & Environmental Sciences Paper

Vol 23, Issue 3, 2021; Page No.(406-410)

FOLIAR BLIGHT DISEASE OF INDIAN SANDALWOOD (SANTALUM ALBUM L.) TREES CAUSED BY THE PATHOGEN PESTALOTIOPSIS GUEPINII (DESM.) STEYAERT

MUTHU KUMAR A., V. SOUNDARARAJAN2, REKHA J., M. DIVYA BHARATHI AND MAMATHA N.

Abstract

Symptoms of brown to dark brown irregular lesions along the leaf tip and margin was observed on young plants of Indian Sandalwood (Santalum album L.) at Institute of Wood Science and Technology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. Similar symptoms were observed in other parts of Sandalwood growing plantations of Karnataka. Sandalwood plants of 2 to 3 years old expressed similar kind of symptoms. The pathogen diminishes the lively leaf area, thereby leading to drying of plants in advance stages. The pathogen was isolated from infected leaves and cultured on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) for identification. Simultaneously symptoms were confirmed for pathogenicity test. The culture and microscopic characters revealed Pestalotiopsis guepinii (Desm.) Steyaert., as a causal organism of foliar blight disease in Indian Sandalwood. The identification of causal organism was confirmed by Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, India. As per literature, it was found, the present report on foliar pathogen Pestalotiopsis guepinii (Desm.) Steyaert., affecting Indian Sandalwood is a new record.