Identification and Characterization of Foliar Fungi Associated with Beach Vitex (Vitex rotundifolia L.)

The beach vitex (Vitex rotundifolia L.), a member of the Lamiaceae family, is salt-tolerant, woody perennial common in coastal areas worldwide. Plant–fungal association was monitored shoreline forest area Wando Island Korea 2020, and leaf samples showing spot disease were collected. Eight fungal isolates recovered from on PDA identified based morphological characteristics multilocus molecular phylogeny. Among eight isolates, four as Alternaria alternata, two Fusarium humuli, one Colletotrichum aenigma, Stagonosporopsis caricae. Pathogenicity tests detached leaves revealed that S. caricae CMML20–2 A. alternata (CMML20–7, CMML20–8, CMML20–9, CMML20–10) caused lesions while other species did not. caricae, C. F. humuli are first reported host worldwide, Korea. In vitro fungicide sensitivity assays carried out measurement diametrical mycelial growth media amended with different doses fungicides fludioxonil, metconazole, fluxapyroxad. Fungicide varied significantly among species, more sensitive to fluxapyroxad than isolates. Our study contributes understanding diversity mycology demonstrates pathogenic fungi including might accelerate decline health.