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<p><i>Hylocereus</i> spp, commonly known as the pitaya, pitahaya or dragon fruit, has substantial nutritional and medicinal significance. From 2025 to 2026, pitaya plants in the orchard of Western Ghats (Coimbatore) exhibited symptoms of stem canker. Initially minor, circular, chlorotic, pitted spots that gradually developed into reddish-brown flecks were observed. Based on morphological characteristics and molecular sequence of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, the pathogen was identified as <i>Neoscytalidium dimidiatum</i>. BLASTn analyses revealed 99–100% sequence similarity with <i>N. dimidiatum</i> accessions in GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis grouped the isolates with <i>N. dimidiatum</i>, providing strong molecular evidence for identification. Koch postulates under controlled conditions confirmed the causal agent of the disease. This is the first report of stem canker caused by <i>N. dimidiatum</i>. These findings offer new insights into stem canker affecting pitaya and highlight the importance of executing effective disease management strategies to minimize the economic impact of this disease on pitaya cultivation in Tamil Nadu.</p>

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Occurrence of stem canker in pitaya orchards (Hylocereus spp.) caused by Neoscytalidium dimidiatum in the Western Ghats, India

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月22日

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  • R. S. Giriprasath,
  • B. C. Umesh,
  • B. Madhumitha,
  • Sajan Kurien,
  • A. Bharanidharan

摘要

Hylocereus spp, commonly known as the pitaya, pitahaya or dragon fruit, has substantial nutritional and medicinal significance. From 2025 to 2026, pitaya plants in the orchard of Western Ghats (Coimbatore) exhibited symptoms of stem canker. Initially minor, circular, chlorotic, pitted spots that gradually developed into reddish-brown flecks were observed. Based on morphological characteristics and molecular sequence of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, the pathogen was identified as Neoscytalidium dimidiatum. BLASTn analyses revealed 99–100% sequence similarity with N. dimidiatum accessions in GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis grouped the isolates with N. dimidiatum, providing strong molecular evidence for identification. Koch postulates under controlled conditions confirmed the causal agent of the disease. This is the first report of stem canker caused by N. dimidiatum. These findings offer new insights into stem canker affecting pitaya and highlight the importance of executing effective disease management strategies to minimize the economic impact of this disease on pitaya cultivation in Tamil Nadu.