First Report of Lasiodiplodia theobromae causing Bot Gummosis in Citrus limon in Chile

Lemon trees located in the Pica oasis, Tarapaca Region of Chile, showing trunk canker, branch dieback, vascular streaks and gummy orange-brown exudation were observed. Lasiodiplodia theobromae was isolated and morphological and molecularly identified, showing 99% similarity to L. theobromae KU997392 reference for ITS region from South Africa, 99% similarity to KU997566 for β-tubulin from South Africa and 99% similarity to KU507452 for EF1- α gene, from Peru. Pathogenicity test was performed using three isolates on 2-years-old Citrus limon symptomless plants. Uninoculated plants were left as controls. After four months, cankered necrotic lesions on the cortex, vascular streaks and orange-brown gummy exudation were observed on branches of inoculated plants. Non-inoculated branches remained asymptomatic. Lasiodiplodia theobromae was re-isolated from 100% of the inoculated plants, completing Koch´s postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of L. theobromae causing Bot Gummosis of Citrus limon in ...