Occurrence of Eggplant Scab Caused by Cladosporium cucumerinum in Korea

A scab disease on eggplant (Solanum melongena L. cv. Chukyang) in plastic film houses around Kimhae area in Korea during the winter season of 0998-1999. The disease started on leaves with small dark brown spots which were gradually expanded to 1 to 3 mm diameter lesions. Later, the central parts of the lesions became collapsed and detached to make holes. Dark brown mold was grown out of the lesions on the lower side of leaf. Numerous conidia were produced on the lower side of leaf. Numerous conidia were produced on the diseased leaves and appeared to be readily dispersed in the air. A fungus was isolated from the diseased leaves, and tested for Koch's postulates to prove the causal agent of the desease. The isolated fungus grew on potato dextrose agar, forming greenish black to pale brown colonies. Conidia were ellipsoidal, fusiform or subspherical, mostly one-celled but occasionally septated, and formed in long branched chains on the erected conidiophores which were pale olevaceous brown and variable in length between 12.4 and $393.4\mu\textrm{g}$. The fungus was identified as Cladosporium cucumerinum Ellis Arthur based on the above morphological characteristics examined. The optimum temperature for mycelial growth and conidial formation was about 20 to $25^{\circ}$. In addition to cucumber, the fungus was also pathogenic to watermelon, pumpkin and oriental melon. This is the first report on the scab disease of eggplant in Korea.