Leptosphaeria maculans

Leptosphaeria maculans is a fungal pathogen in the phylum Ascomycota and the causal agent of blackleg disease in Brassica crops, including canola (Brassica napus). Its genome was among the first plant pathogen genomes sequenced using Sanger chemistry combined with physical and genetic maps, making it a well studied model phytopathogenic fungus. Blackleg disease produces basal stem cankers, small grey leaf lesions and root rot, with stem canker responsible for most yield loss; the fungus spreads by wind borne ascospores or rain splashed conidia and grows best in wet conditions between 5 and 20 degrees Celsius. It is managed through crop rotation, removal of stubble, fungicide application and resistant crop varieties. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/