Leaf spot and fruit rot of strawberry caused by Neopestalotiopsis clavispora in Indo-Gangetic plains of India

A severe foliar disease was observed on leaves and fruits of strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa ) for the first time from Indo-Gangetic plains of West Bengal in India during 2016–2017. Typical symptom appeared as a small necrotic lesion with a grey coloured centre and purplish brown margin. The spots were scattered on the leaves and gradually the spots coalesced to each other and covered large necrotic areas causing gradual conversion from green areas into black necrotic areas. As the spots were older and matured, black coloured acervuli developed from the necrotic portion. Morphologically the pathogen was very much similar with the genus Neopestalotiopsis previously reported from other countries. Through molecular characterization the pathogen in the present study was confirmed as Neopestalotiopsis clavispora (NCBI accession number MF377347). Further isolated pathogen was tested in some leading strawberry varieties of India. Although all the cultivars showed susceptibility under laboratory as well as field conditions, the variety “ Sabrina ” showed moderately resistance in leaves as well as fruits among the tested varieties.