Identification and Pathogenicity of Dothiorella sarmentorum Causing Lavender Leaf Blight Disease in Xinjiang, China.

Lavender is an oil-bearing plant, which has long been cultivated for oil, fresh flowers, dried products, and food. Leaf blight disease was observed on 'Bandera Pink', which belongs to Lavandula stoechas in Yining County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. The causal agent of this disease was isolated, and Koch's postulates were assessed to confirm its pathogenicity. The morphological characteristics of the pathogen were observed, and the LSU, ITS, tef1, and tub2 loci were combined and analyzed. Based on morphological characterization and phylogenetic analyses, the causal agent was identified as a fungal species named Dothiorella sarmentorum. Pathogenicity tests revealed that D. sarmentorum can infect seven varieties of three lavender species. This is the first report of D. sarmentorum causing lavender leaf blight. This study provides a theoretical basis for the diagnosis of disease and the monitoring of disease occurrence and epidemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]