First Report of Stigmina palmivora Causing Leaf Spots on Phoenix roebelenii in Brazil

Phoenix roebelenii (Arecaceae), known as dwarf date (tamareira-ana in Brazil), is a palm native to Southeast Asia and widely cultivated worldwide because of its ornamental value and ease of adaptation to a broad range of climates and soil types (4). In June 2012, some individuals were observed in a private garden in the municipality of Vicosa (state of Minas Gerais, Brazil) bearing numerous necrotic lesions on its leaves. Representative samples were taken, dried in a plant press, and brought to the laboratory for examination. A fungus was regularly associated with the leaf spots. Fungal structures were mounted in lactophenol and slides were examined under a microscope (Olympus BX 51). Spores were taken from sporulating colonies with a sterile fine needle and plated on PDA for isolation. A pure culture was deposited in the culture collection of the Universidade Federal de Vicosa (accession COAD1338). A dried herbarium sample was deposited in the local herbarium (VIC39741). The fungus had the following morp...