Occurrence of Black Mold on Sweet Pepper Fruits Caused by Alternaria alternata in Korea

In July 2022 and 2023, black mold symptoms were observed sporadically on fruits of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) plants grown in a greenhouse located in Suwon, Korea. The incidence of black mold on the fruits was 5−24% (average 14.8%) in variety SP-504 (yellow and elongate type) and 1−8% (average 5%) in variety SP-505 (red and round type) investigated. Four single-conidium isolates of Alternaria sp. obtained from the diseased fruits were identified as Alternaria alternata based on the morphological characteristics and molecular phyogenetic analyses. The isolates were tested for pathogenicity to sweet pepper fruits of varieties SP-504 and SP-505 through artificial inoculation. The isolates mostly induced large lesions on fruits of the two varieties in the wound inoculation, but only two isolates small lesions on fruits of the variety SP-504 in the non-wound inoculation. No lesions formed on fruits of the variety SP-505 in the non-wound inoculation. The pathogenicity tests revealed that susceptibility of sweet pepper fruits to the disease differs between the varieties. The symptoms induced by pathogenicity tests with the isolates were similar to those observed on fruits from the greenhouse investigated. This is the first report of A. alternata causing black mold on sweet pepper fruits in Korea.