First Report of Alternaria Alternata Causing Brown Leaf Spot on Apricot (Prunus Armeniaca) in Karbala Province of Iraq
Zeinab L. Hameed, Adnan A. Lahuf, Mundher T. Jasim, Hassan M. Mohsen, Bahaa J. Kadim, Sara A. Saleh, Asmaa F. Mohamed
Abstract
Abstract During a survey in season 018, leaf spot symptoms were commonly observed on apricot ( Prunus armeniaca ) trees in the orchards of Al-Hussainiya district in Karbala Province of Iraq. The symptomatic leaves were gathered, the associated fungus was isolated and characterized relied on its morphological features and ITS-rDNA sequencing. The causative factor was found to be the fungus Alternaria alternata that caused distinguishable leaf spot symptoms on the inoculated leaves of apricot. Based on a review of previous references relatedof this disease in Iraq, this is the first report of the brown leaf spot disease caused by A. alternata in Karbala province of Iraq.