First Report of Leaf Spot of Chlorophytum comosum caused by Thielavia terrestris from Pakistan

Abstract

In efforts to record pathogenic fungal diversity on ornamental plants of Pakistan, infected leaves of Chlorophytum comosum plants were collected from commercial nursery in Lahore, Pakistan. Investigation of leafspot symptoms led to identification of an ascomycete fungus, Thielavia terrestris. Analysis for fungal identification involved morphological, microscopic and molecular methods. ITS-nrDNA sequence data were used to construct molecular phylogenetic tree of Thielavia with allied species. The fungus was confirmed as T. terrestris. This is the first report of T. terrestris causing disease in C. comosum and it is also a new record for Pakistan.