In a significant discovery, plant pathologists Dr. Deewakar Baral, Dr. Sukram Thapa, and Dr. Rodrick Lepcha from Lovely Professional University (LPU) have reported a new disease affecting Neolamarckia cadamba (Kadamba) trees. This first-of-its-kind report highlights the emergence of a new pathogen. The finding was documented in December 2023 when necrotic leaf spot symptoms were observed on 20 per cent to 40 per cent of the foliage of Kadamba trees within the LPU campus, as well as in nearby farmer fields of Punjab.

The disease was characterized by distinctive concentric ring spots surrounded by yellow halos on infected leaves. Affected samples were meticulously collected, and fungal colonies appeared greyish, with conidial morphology confirming their association with the genus Alternaria.

To verify their findings, DNA analysis conclusively identified the pathogen as Alternaria ethzedia. The sequences of these isolates have been successfully deposited in the NCBI GenBank, providing a global reference for further studies.

This marks the first global report of A. ethzedia causing leaf spot disease on Neolamarckia cadamba. Kadamba, a culturally significant and ecologically important tree, has not previously been reported to host this pathogen. The discovery highlights the urgent need for further research into the management and mitigation of this emerging disease to prevent its spread and safeguard Kadamba populations in the region.

The findings by LPU’s team underline the importance of continuous plant health monitoring and collaborative efforts to combat emerging plant pathogens. This report is a call to action for researchers, farmers, and policymakers to focus on integrated disease management strategies for Neolamarckia cadamba.