Several Pestalotiopsis-like species cause gray blight disease in tea plants, resulting in severe tea production losses. However, systematic and comprehensive research on the diversity, geographical distribution, and pathogenicity of pathogenic species associated with tea plants in China is limited. In this study, 168 Pestalotiopsis-like isolates were obtained from diseased tea plant leaves from 13 primary tea-producing provinces and cities in China. Based on a multilocus (internal transcribed spacer, translation elongation factor 1-α, and β-tubulin gene region) phylogenetic analysis coupled with an assessment of conidial characteristics, 20 Neopestalotiopsis unclassified isolates, seven Pestalotiopsis species, including two novel (Pestalotiopsis menhaiensis and Pestalotiopsis sichuanensis), four known (Pestalotiopsis camelliae, Pestalotiopsis chamaeropis, Pestalotiopsis kenyana, and Pestalotiopsis rhodomyrtus) and one indistinguishable species, and three Pseudopestalotiopsis species, including two known (Pseudopestalotiopsis camelliae-sinensis and Pseudopestalotiopsis chinensis) and one indistinguishable species, were identified. This study is the first to evaluate Pestalotiopsis chamaeropis on tea plants in China. The geographical distribution and pathogenicity tests showed Pseudopestalotiopsis camelliae-sinensis to be the dominant cause of gray blight of tea plants in China. In vitro antifungal assays demonstrated that theobromine not only derepressed mycelial growth of the 29 representative isolates but also increased their growth. Correlation analysis revealed a linear positive relationship between the mycelial growth rate and pathogenicity (P = 0.0148).

/pdf/diversity-of-pestalotiopsis-like-species-causing-gray-blight-4w3hnxng3m.pdf

Diversity of Pestalotiopsis-Like Species Causing Gray Blight Disease of Tea Plants (Camellia sinensis) in China, Including two Novel Pestalotiopsis Species, and Analysis of Their Pathogenicity.

Gray blight, caused by Pestalotiopsis-like species, is one of the most serious diseases in tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] production. In this study, eight Pestalotiopsis isolates obtained f...

Characterization of Pestalotiopsis chamaeropis causing gray blight disease on tea leaves (Camellia sinensis) in Chongqing, China

Leaf spots are the most damaging and common foliar diseases of tea and are caused by several species of fungi. During 2018 to 2020, leaf spot diseases showing different symptoms (large and small spots) were observed in commercial tea plantations in Guizhou and Sichuan provinces of China. The pathogen causing the two different sized leaf spots was identified as the same species (Didymella segeticola) based on morphological characteristics, pathogenicity, and multilocus phylogenetic analysis using the combined ITS, TUB, LSU, and RPB2 gene regions. Microbial diversity analysis of lesion tissues from small spots on naturally infected tea leaves further confirmed Didymella to be present as the main pathogen. Results of sensory evaluation and quality-related metabolite analysis of tea shoots infected with the small leaf spot symptom indicated that D. segeticola negatively affected the quality and flavor of tea by changing the composition and content of caffeine, catechins, and amino acids. In addition, the significantly reduced amino acid derivatives in tea are confirmed to be positively associated with the enhanced bitter taste. The results improve our understanding of the pathogenicity of Didymella species and the influence of Didymella on the host plant, Camellia sinensis. 

Characteristics of Leaf Spot Disease Caused by Didymella Species and the Influence of Infection on Tea Quality

Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) have been increasingly cultivated in Portugal. Although blueberry is known to be susceptible to twig blight and dieback caused by pestalotioid fungi, there is still scarce information regarding this issue. To bridge this gap, a survey on blueberry plantations in Portugal was carried out to assess the diversity of pestalotioid fungi associated with symptomatic blueberry plants. A collection of 51 fungal isolates was characterized by multilocus sequence analyses of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1-α) and β-tubulin (tub2). The phylogenetic analyses revealed the presence of Pestalotiopsis australis, P. biciliata, P. chamaeropis, Neopestalotiopsis rosae and three novel species described as Neopestalotiopsis scalabiensis, N. vaccinii and N. vacciniicola. The new species were fully characterized based on their morphology and temperature growth requirements. The pathogenicity trials carried out on cultivar “Duke” revealed that all isolates tested were pathogenic to blueberry plants, with N. rosae being the most aggressive species. This study provides the first report of P. chamaeropis, P. biciliata and P. australis associated with blueberry dieback and twig blight symptoms in Portugal and worldwide. Additionally, N. rosae is also newly reported from Portugal. This survey disclosed the occurrence of several pestalotioid species, which may represent a threat to Portuguese blueberry plantations.

Diversity and pathogenicity of pestalotioid fungi associated with blueberry plants in Portugal, with description of three novel species of Neopestalotiopsis

Gray blight disease is one of the most destructive diseases of tea plants and occurs widely in the tea-growing areas of the world. It is caused by several fungal phytopathogens, of which Pseudopestalotiopsis camelliae-sinensis is the main pathogen in China. The environmentally friendly antimicrobial, phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA), a metabolite of the natural soil-borne bacteria Pseudomonas spp., can inhibit a range of fungal crop diseases. In this study, we determined that PCA was active against Ps. camelliae-sinensis in vitro. We studied the mode of action of PCA on hyphae using a microscopic investigation, transcriptomics, biochemical methods, and molecular docking. The results of scanning and transmission electron microscopy indicated that PCA caused developmental deformity of mycelia and organelle damage, and it significantly decreased the accumulation of exopolysaccharides on the hyphal surface. The transcriptome revealed that 1705 and 1683 differentially expressed genes of Ps. camelliae-sinensis treated with PCA were up-regulated or down-regulated, respectively, with genes associated with ribosome biogenesis, oxidative phosphorylation, and encoding various proteins of N-glycan biosynthesis being significantly up-regulated. Up-regulation of nine genes related to N-glycan biosynthesis of Ps. camelliae-sinensis in response to PCA treatment was confirmed by reverse transcription qPCR. The enzymatic activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase of hyphae was significantly decreased by PCA treatment. Our results indicated that exposure to PCA resulted in expression changes in oxidoreductase genes, accumulation of reactive oxygen species, and decreased activity of catalase, with concomitant damage to the fungal cell membrane and cell wall.

/pdf/transcriptomic-biochemical-and-morphological-study-reveals-1skwma4kog.pdf

Transcriptomic, Biochemical, and Morphological Study Reveals the Mechanism of Inhibition of Pseudopestalotiopsis camelliae-sinensis by Phenazine-1-Carboxylic Acid.

Severe lesions along with black spots on tea leaves were observed in the commercial tea plantations located in Chongqing district of China during the April to July of 2015. The pathogens isolated from diseased tea leaves matched the morphological characteristics of Alternaria alternata that were rarely found on tea plant [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] in all the tea-growing countries worldwide. The characteristics of A. alternata were further confirmed by both pathogenicity tests and multi-gene phylogenetic analyses derived from internal transcribed spacer (ITS), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and beta-tubulin (β-tubulin). The combination of ITS, GAPDH and β-tubulin was more useful for delimitation in the genus Alternaria than any single gene region. Pathogenicity tests conducted on healthy tea leaves showed typical leaf spot symptoms, confirming the role of all the A. alternata isolates as the causal agent of leaf spot disease on tea plants.

Phylogenetic and morphological characteristics of Alternaria alternata causing leaf spot disease on Camellia sinensis in China

Occurrence of Pestalotiopsis lushanensis Causing Grey Blight Disease on Camellia sinensis in China

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Characterization of Pestalotiopsis chamaeropis causing gray blight disease on tea leaves (Camellia sinensis) in Chongqing, China

Phylogenetic and morphological characteristics of Alternaria alternata causing leaf spot disease on Camellia sinensis in China

Occurrence of Pestalotiopsis lushanensis Causing Grey Blight Disease on Camellia sinensis in China