Characteristics of Lasiodiplodia theobromae from Rosa rugosa in South China

• Lasiodiplodia theobromae was identified from Rosa rugosa based on sequence comparisons and morphological characteristics.
• Pathogenicity test results indicated that L. theobromae is pathogenic to R. rugosa.
• This is the first report of L. theobromae infecting Rosa in China.

Rosa rugosa Thunb., one of the most important cut flower crops in China, is mainly planted in the southern regions of this country. Lasiodiplodia species include pathogens of a wide variety of plant and cover a wide geographic distribution. Recently, canker disease caused by species of Lasiodiplodia was observed on R. rugosa branches in GuangDong Province in South China. Based on sequence comparisons for the ITS rDNA and translation elongation factor 1 alpha (TEF-1α) gene region, and combined morphological characteristics, the Lasiodiplodia isolates from diseased R. rugosa branches were identified as Lasiodiplodia theobromae (Pat.) Griffon & Maubl. Pathogenicity tests showed that L. theobromae was virulent to R. rugosa. To our knowledge, this is the first report of L. theobromae infecting Rosa in China.