First report of Japanese pear scab in Santa Catarina, Brazil

Abstract

In the spring of 2003, a disease causing small olive-green spots was found on young leaves and fruits
of two commercial orchards of Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia var. culta) located in Caçador and Frei Rogério, SC, Brazil. In 2004 it was also observed in one orchard in Campo Belo do Sul. Conidia which had been collected from infected leaves of the Japanese pear cv. Housui was shown to be related to Venturia nashicola, the causal agent of Japanese Pear Scab. Responses of pear leaves to Fusicladium sp. conidia, which had been artificially inoculated,
were positive only for Japanese pear cv. Housui and not for European pear cv. Bartlett. This is the first report in Santa Catarina State and in Brazil of the occurrence of Scab which is an important disease of the Japanese pear.