FIRST REPORT OF Alternaria metachromatica FROM PAKISTAN CAUSING LEAF SPOT OF TOMATO

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is one of the most popular and significant commercial crop of Pakistan. Outbreak of leaf spot was observed on leaves of tomato plants growing in fields of Lahore. Causal organism was isolated and initially identified on the basis of morphological characters. Complete description of macro and microscopic characters was prepared. Identification was confirmed by rDNA spacer sequence. Based on morphological and molecular approaches, Alternaria metachromatica was identified as causal organism. Culture of pathogen was deposited in First Fungal Culture Bank of Pakistan (FCBP) and the gene sequence in GenBank. Pathogenicity was confirmed by exposing the healthy leaves to spores of A. metachromatica as well as inoculums in the soil.