First report of pseudopithomyces mori causing leaf spot on mandarin in Italy.

In July 2023, a leaf spot-like disease was discovered on mandarin plants in an orchard in Calabria, Southern Italy. The affected leaves showed dark brown lesions with a yellow halo. Three isolates of the fungus Pseudopithomyces mori were obtained from different plants and identified through morphological and genetic analysis. The pathogenicity of the fungus was confirmed by inoculating healthy citrus leaves and observing the development of lesions. This is the first report of P. mori causing leaf spot on mandarin leaves in Italy. [Extracted from the article]