English
First Report of Pomegranate Leaf Spot Caused by Pseudocercospora punicae in Korea
Jiwon Jang1, Jang Hoon Song2, Gyoung Hee Kim1,3*
1Department of Plant Medicine, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Republic of Korea
2Goheung Agricultural Technology Center, Goheung, Republic of Korea
3Department of Agricultural Life Science, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Republic of Korea
*Email: ghkim@scnu.ac.kr
Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is an economically important minor fruit crop cultivated in warm temperate regions. In Korea, its commercial production is largely concentrated in Goheung County, Jeonnam Province. In September 2025, a severe outbreak of leaf spot disease affecting both leaves and fruits was observed on pomegranate trees at the Goheung Agricultural Technology Center. Disease incidence was high, with symptoms present on most examined trees. Initial symptoms appeared as small, dark-brown necrotic spots on leaves and fruits. As the disease progressed, lesions enlarged, became irregular, and turned dark reddish-brown to nearly black, sometimes surrounded by faint chlorotic halos. Fruit lesions were variable in size and occasionally resembled bacterial spot; however, they lacked cracking and bacterial exudates. Fungal isolates obtained from symptomatic tissues were cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Microscopic observations revealed hyaline to pale brown septate mycelia and subcylindrical to obclavate conidia with 2–7 septa, measuring 31.2–71.2 × 2.7–3.6 μm. Conidiophores were cylindrical, 0–1 septate, and formed in fascicles of 3–37, measuring 10–25 x 2.7-4.2 μm in length. These morphological characteristics were consistent with Pseudocercospora species. Phylogenetic analyses based on sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), actin (ACT), and translation elongation factor 1-α (EF1-α) genes confirmed the pathogen as Pseudocercospora punicae. Pathogenicity was verified by inoculating healthy tissues, which reproduced typical symptoms, and the pathogen was consistently re-isolated, thereby fulfilling Koch’s postulates. This is the first report of pomegranate leaf spot caused by P. punicae in Korea.
