Identification and Characterization of Camellia oleifera Leaf Blight Disease Pathogen

The Camellia oleifera blight pathogen was identified as Pestalotiopsis microspora.In vitro culture showed that PDA medium was the best for the mycelial growth of pathogen.No conidium was produced when growing in crapek's medium.Conidia sporulated best on OMA medium.Temperature ranged from 20 to 30 ℃ and 25 ℃ were optimum for its mycelia growth and spore sporulation.Spores could not produced below 10 ℃ or over 30 ℃.pH ranged from 4 to 11 was optimum for its mycelia growth,while pH7 was optimum for conidium sporulation.The mycelia grew best on media with fructose as C source,and conidia sporulated best on media with D-Glucose as C-source.Peptone nitrate and KNO3 nitrate were the best nitrogen sources for mycelial growth while peptone nitrate was the best for conidium sporulation.Continuous light or 12 h light/12 h dark cycles were the best for mycelial growth and conidium production.The lethal temperature for conidium was 52 ℃,10 min.