First Confirmed Report of Corynespora cassiicola Causing Target Leaf Spot on Handroanthus serratifolius and Tabebuia rosea in Brazil

ABSTRACT Handroanthus serratifolius (yellow lapacho) and Tabebuia rosea (pink poui) are forest species of ecological and economic importance in Brazil. In March 2023, leaves exhibiting target spot symptoms were collected from a forest nursery in São Lourenço da Mata, Pernambuco, Brazil. Fungal isolates were obtained and purified from the symptomatic tissue. Based on morphological characterization, multilocus phylogenetic analysis ( ITS , TEF‐1α , TUB2 and LSU ), and pathogenicity tests, the causal agent was identified as Corynespora cassiicola . This represents the first confirmed global report of C. cassiicola infecting H. serratifolius and T. rosea supported by molecular phylogeny.