LAUSR

Mulberry ( Morus spp.), represents a set of plants grown in Brazil for production of fruits, leaves for feeding silkworms and ruminant animals, and for landscape. In 2017 mulberry leaves with symptoms of spots were collected in Santa Catarina (SC) state and in the Distrito Federal (DF). Three fungal isolates obtained from M. nigra in DF and one isolate obtained from M. alba in SC state were characterized by both molecular and morphological tools. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all isolates were grouped with isolates belonging to the species Neophloeospora maculans . All isolates were pathogenic on leaves of M. nigra seedlings under greenhouse conditions and were re-isolated in pure culture, completing the Koch’s postulates. One isolate was morphologically characterized, and it showed colonies with slow growth, grayish-white color and conidia hyaline, septated, filiform, straight or curved, measuring 56 (25–70) × 4.5 (2.5–5) that confirms the molecular identification. This work reposts M. nigra as a new host of N. maculans in Brazil, as well as expands the geographic distribution of this fungus in the country. This information is potentially relevant for establishing effective disease management strategies.