Pathogens Infecting Chinese Yams Planted on Ridges in Northern Hubei

  Objective   Pathogens that cause serious diseases on Dioscorea batatas Decne grown on the mountain ridges in northern Hubei province were investigated to facilitate drafting effective disease prevention and control measures.

  Method   Specimens of aboveground parts of the diseased plants were collected for pathogen isolation. The isolates were identified by colonial morphology, microstructure, and blasting sequence of ITS as well as the pathogenicity determination with tissue separation of phytopathology and ITS-PCR.

  Result   The isolated pathogenic fungi included Alternaria alternate, Colletotrichum fructicola, C. gloeosporiaides, and Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae.

  Conclusion   The pathogens causing the diseases, such as anthracnose, that can lead to withering or death of Chinese yams at the region were highly diversified and complex.