First report of Neoscytalidium novaehollandiae on common sage (Salvia officinalis)

Abstract

In June 2020, many plants exhibited symptoms of root rot and foliar blight in the experimental field of common sage in Şanlıurfa province, Turkey. The pathogen was identified as Neoscytalidium novaehollandiae based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of partial sequence of the transcription elongation factor 1-α gene and the internal transcribed spacer of rDNA. Koch’s postulates were fulfilled by successful re-isolation of the pathogen from inoculated plants in the pathogenicity assay. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of N. novaehollandiae causing root rot and foliar blight of common sage worldwide.