First report of Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae causing canker and stem blight of blueberries in Morocco

Abstract

AbstractBlueberry (Vaccinium spp.) has been extensively planted in Morocco due to its nutritional value and economic importance. Botryosphaeria canker or stem blight of blueberry has emerged as one of the most destructive diseases affecting global production of this crop. This disease causes wood symptoms such as necrotic lesions, internal wood discoloration, and stem blight. Similar symptoms were found on blueberry farms in the Northwestern region of Morocco. Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae was isolated from the diseased tissues of blueberry. The identification of the causal agent was confirmed by morphological and molecular characterization through sequence analysis of two loci, the internal transcribed region (ITS) and beta‐tubulin (βtub). The pathogenicity test was performed on blueberry twigs and indicated that L. pseudotheobromae causes damage to blueberry plants. This is the first report of L. pseudotheobromae on blueberry in Morocco.