First report of Pseudocercospora platanigena in Australia

Abstract

A distinct black leafspot with fungal growth was found on Platanus orientalis ‘Digitata’ (cut-leaf oriental plane tree) in northern Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, in February 2019. Morphological characteristics, internal transcribed spacer sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the associated fungus identified it as Pseudocercospora platanigena (= Stigmina platani). This pathogen has previously been reported from Pl. orientalis (oriental plane tree) in Europe and Asia and more recently from Pl. orientalis ‘Digitata’ in New Zealand. This is the first report of Ps. platanigena in Australia. Pseudocercospora platanigena is now common on Pl. orientalis ‘Digitata’ throughout Sydney and has been found as far north as Dorrigo in northern New South Wales and west to the Blue Mountains. Pseudocercospora platanigena has not been observed on Pl. orientalis other than the cultivar ‘Digitata’, nor on the more commonly planted London plane tree (Pl. x acerifolia) in Australia. It has not been found in other states in Australia.