Leaf Spot and Fruit Rot on Achachairu: Novel Diseases Caused by <i>Lasiodiplodia theobromae</i>

ABSTRACT The achachairu ( Garcinia humilis ) is an exotic tropical fruit native to Bolivia that has recently gained commercial popularity in Brazil. In a producing region of Pernambuco, Brazil, spots and rot symptoms were observed on the leaves and fruit of G. humilis . Fungal isolates from the Lasiodiplodia genus were obtained from symptomatic tissue. Based on multigenic analyses ( TEF1‐α , ITS and TUB2 ) and morphological characteristics, the isolates were identified as L. theobromae , which were confirmed to be pathogenic on achachairu leaves and fruits. This report presents two new diseases in achachairu caused by L. theobromae . This study improves our understanding of the achachairu pathosystem and establishes a foundation for future disease management research.