Identification and Characterization of Neofabraea kienholzii and Phlyctema vagabunda Causing Leaf and Shoot Lesions of Olive in California

Abstract

California produces over 95% of the olives grown in the United States. In 2017, California’s total bearing acreage for olives was 14,570 hectares producing 192,000 tons of olives valued at $186.6 million. During the early spring of 2016, unusual leaf and shoot lesions were detected in olive trees from superhigh-density orchards in the Northern San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys of California. Affected trees displayed numerous leaf and shoot lesions developing at wounds created by mechanical harvesters. The ‘Arbosana’ cultivar was highly affected by the disease, whereas the disease was sporadic in ‘Arbequina’ and not found in ‘Koroneiki’ cultivar. Two fungal species, Neofabraea kienholzii and Phlyctema vagabunda, were found to be consistently associated with the disease, and Koch’s postulates were completed. Species identity was confirmed by morphology and molecular data of the partial large subunit rDNA, the internal transcribed spacer region, and partial beta-tubulin region. The disease signs and symptoms are described and illustrated.