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First Report of Alternaria Leaf Spot of Spathiphyllum sp. in Argentina

Brown necrotic spots surrounded by chlorotic areas have been observed on the leaf margins of Spathiphyllum sp. in many nurseries in and near Buenos Aires, Argentina, since 1997. Spots reached 0.7 × 2 cm and appeared mainly on older leaves of stressed plants. To determine the causal agent of the leaf spot, small pieces of diseased tissue were surface-sterilized for 2 min in 2% sodium hypochlorite and plated on potato dextrose agar. Gray olivaceous to almost black colonies developed in 3 to 4 days. Dark conidiophores, which formed singly or in small groups, were short, less than 100 μm, sometimes flexuous, and occasionally geniculate. The brown to black, obclavate, pyriform, or rostrate conidia were 20 to 25 μm long × 10 to 15 μm wide, with three to four transverse septa and one to three longitudinal or oblique septa. Chains of conidia 5 to 10 spores long were sometimes branched, appearing bushy. The foliage of 15 healthy potted plants previously injured with sterile needles and 15 healthy potted plants without injuries was inoculated with a suspension of 2.8 × 10⁴ conidia per ml. Plants were maintained at 23°C and 100% relative humidity under fluorescent light (12 h light/12 h darkness) for 3 days. Chlorotic and necrotic spots began to develop on the apex and margins of injured and inoculated leaves after 10 days. Lesions tended to coalesce, finally measuring 2.2 × 0.7 cm after 26 days. Control plants, with and without injuries, sprayed with distilled water remained symptomless. Koch's postulates were satisfied after reisolating the fungus. Cultures in potato carrot agar and V8 agar after 7 days exhibited typical characteristics of Alternaria alternata (2--4). An Alternaria sp. has been found previously in the United States on Spathiphyllum sp. (1). This is the first report of Alternaria leaf spot of Spathiphyllum in Argentina.

References: (1) D. F. Farr et al. 1989. Fungi on Plants and Plant Products in the United States. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN. (2) E. G. Simmons. Alternaria themes and variations (226--235): Classification of Citrus pathogens. Mycotaxon 70:263, 1999. (3) E. G. Simmons. Alternaria themes and variations (236--243): Host specific toxin producers. Mycotaxon 70:325, 1999. (4) E. G. Simmons and R. G. Roberts. Alternaria themes and variations (73). Mycotaxon 48:109, 1993.