Stem and Leaf Rot of Tomato Caused by Boeremia linicola

Abstract

In December 2020, stem and leaf rot symptoms in small-fruited tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants were observed in a farmer's vinyl greenhouse located in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Korea. The incidence of diseased plants in the vinyl greenhouse was 2–6%. Seven single-spore isolates of Phoma sp. were obtained from the diseased stems and leaves. All the isolates were identified as Boeremia linicola based on the cultural, morphological and molecular characteristics. Two isolates of B. linicola were tested for pathogenicity on stems and leaves of small-fruited tomato and large-fruited tomato using artificial inoculation. All the tested isolates caused stem and leaf rot symptoms in the inoculated plants. The symptoms were similar to those observed in plants from the vinyl greenhouse investigated. This is the first report of B. linicola causing stem and leaf rot in tomato.

Keywords

• boeremia linicola
• solanum lycopersicum
• stem and leaf rot
• tomato