Identification of Fungal Species Causing Canker on Albizia julibrissin in Xinjiang, China

Albizia julibrissin is an ecologically and economically significant tree species in the arid regions of Xinjiang, China, valued for its ornamental, medicinal, and environmental functions. In recent years, symptoms of canker disease have been observed on A. julibrissin across multiple locations in Xinjiang, raising concerns about tree health and survival. During the 2023 and 2024 growing seasons, symptomatic branch and trunk samples were collected from three representative regions (Aksu, Kashi, and Tumushuk), where field incidence of canker disease ranged from 16% to 20% based on visual assessments. A total of 128 fungal isolates were obtained from 85 symptomatic samples. Among these, 112 isolates belonged to the Botryosphaeriaceae family, with Botryosphaeria dothidea (81.3%), Diplodia seriata (10.7%), and Neoscytalidium dimidiatum (8.0%) being the dominant species consistently recovered from canker lesions. The main fungal species were identified through phenotypic observations, multilocus DNA analysis targeting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), beta-tubulin (TUB), and translation elongation factor (TEF) gene regions, and pathogenicity testing. Pathogenicity assays were conducted by inoculating mycelial plugs onto wounded branches of healthy Albizia julibrissin saplings under controlled conditions. Disease progression was monitored, and virulence was quantified based on lesion length. Results confirmed that B. dothidea, N. dimidiatum, and D. seriata are the primary causal agents of Albizia julibrissin canker disease in Xinjiang, with B. dothidea being the most frequently isolated and most virulent species. This is the first report of these pathogens causing canker on Albizia julibrissin in Xinjiang, providing a foundation for further studies on disease epidemiology and control in arid regions.