Occurrence of Sooty Blotch and Flyspeck Disease on Sweet Persimmon in Korea

Sooty blotch and flyspeck (SBFS), a disease caused by a complex of fungi, results in substantial economic losses for commercial growers of sweet persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.) in Korea. However, many species causing SBFS in Korea have not been identified and sources of inoculum are uncertain. Based on mycological characteristics, pathogenicity, and molecular data, the causal fungi were identified as Dissoconium sp. and Zygophiala wisconsinensis. This is the first report of SBFS of sweet persimmon in Korea.