FIRST REPORT OF STEM GUMMOSIS AND LEAF BLIGHT DISEASE IN Momordica charantia CAUSED BY Lasiodiplodia theobromae

Momordica charantia is native to India and tropical Asia. During September 2017- December 2018 field survey was carried out nearly 5 hectares of bitter gourd growing areas in Mysuru taluks and KR Nagar taluks, with incidence of 20-30%. The fungal pathogen responsible for this disease was isolated on the PDA media. Initially colonies were pale grey in colour gradually becoming dark gray, and septate mycelia was observed. Initially conidia were aseptate and glassy later turned to dark brown, two-celled and thick-walled. By considering all these culture characters, the isolated fungus was identified as Lasiodiplodia species. For species level identification, molecular characterisation through PCR using specific ITS1 and ITS4 - rDNA primers was carried out. Phylogenetic tree was constructed based on the data obtained from nBLAST, which confirmed the pathogen as Lasiodiplodia theobromae. In GenBank the representative isolate was deposited (Accession number MN891762.1, MN891763.1). The pathogenicity test was performed on one month old bitter gourd plant inoculated with mycelia suspension of L. theobromae. Identity of pathogen was conformed through re-isolation of pathogen from experimental plant. In vitro fungicidal activity was also carried out. The present work is the first report of stem gummosis and leaf blight disease on bitter gourd caused by L. theobromae.