| Phomopsis obscurans | |
|---|---|
| |
| V-shaped lesion on a strawberry leaf | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Sordariomycetes |
| Order: | Diaporthales |
| Family: | Valsaceae |
| Genus: | Phomopsis |
| Species: | P. obscurans
|
| Binomial name | |
| Phomopsis obscurans (Ellis & Everh.) B. Sutton, (1965)
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Dendrophoma obscurans (Ellis & Everh.) H.W. Anderson, (1920) | |
Phomopsis obscurans is a common fungus found in strawberry plants, which causes the disease of leaf blight. Common symptoms caused by the pathogen begin as small circular reddish-purple spots and enlarge to form V-shaped lesions that follow the vasculature of the plant's leaves. Although the fungus infects leaves early in the growing season when the plants are beginning to develop, leaf blight symptoms are most apparent on older plants towards the end of the growing season. The disease can weaken strawberry plants through the destruction of foliage, which results in reduced yields. In years highly favorable for disease development, leaf blight can ultimately lead to the death of the strawberry plants. A favorable environment for the growth and development of the Phomopsis obscurans pathogen is that of high temperature, high inoculum density, a long period of exposure to moisture, and immature host tissue. In the case of disease management, a conjunction of cultural practices is the most effective way of reducing the infection.