Endophytic species of Colletotrichum associated with mango in northeastern Brazil

Endophytic species of Colletotrichum associated with Mangifera indica(mango)are poorly understood.In this study,Colletotrichum species were isolated from mango in Pernambuco State,Brazil.There were significant differences in isolation frequencies of Colletotrichum species among sites and plant tissues.Mature leaf blades were colonized by most Colletotrichum isolates at the majority of sites.Partial sequences of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase(GAPDH)of 97 Colletotrichum isolates were amplified as an initial measure of genetic diversity.Phylogenetic analysis with a subset of 22 isolates were performed based on a multilocus dataset(ACT,TUB2,CAL,CHS-1,GAPDH,ITS)followed by Apn2/MAT IGS sequence-analysis for isolates within the C.gloeosporioides species complex.Molecular analysis associated with phenotypic characteristics revealed six previously described species[C.asianum,C.cliviae,C.dianesei(syn.C.melanocaulon),C.fructicola,C.karstii and C.tropicale]and one new species.This new species is introduced as C.endomangiferae.All species isolated were pathogenic on mango fruits but varied in their virulence.There was no distribution pattern of species among sites and plant tissues,although C.asianum was the most prevalent species at all sites and in all plant tissues studied.Five previously reported Colletotrichum species causing anthracnose in mango fruits in northeastern Brazil were also recovered as endophytes.

Five Colletotrichum species are responsible for mango anthracnose in northeastern Brazil

Colletotrichum species are the most important and widespread form of decay affecting mango fruit worldwide.In this study,Colletotrichum species associated with fruit anthracnose isolated from mango in northeastern Brazil were subject to molecular and morphological analyses.The partial sequences of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene of 143 Colletotrichum isolates was amplified,as an initial measure of genetic diversity.A subset of 47 isolates,selected to represent the range of genetic diversity and geographic origin,were further sequenced using the partial actin,β-tubulin,calmodulin,glutamine synthetase genes and rDNA-ITS region.The multilocus sequence analysis,together with a critical examination of the phenotypic characters,revealed four previously described species(Colletotrichum asianum,Colletotrichum fructicola,Colletotrichum tropicale and Colletotrichum karstii)and one new species.The new species is introduced as Colletotrichum dianesei and formally described,illustrated and compared with similar taxa.Only C.asianum and C.karstii have previously been reported from mango,while the other species represent the first report associated with the mango fruits worldwide.All species are reported for the first time associated with the mango fruits in Brazil.

Botryosphaeria, Neofusicoccum, Neoscytalidium and Pseudofusicoccum species associated with mango in Brazil

Members of the Botryosphaeriaceae are well known fungi associated with dieback,canker and fruit rot on various hosts worldwide,including mango.The aim of this study was identify a large collection of Botryosphaeriaceae species associated with dieback and stem-end rot of mango in the semi-arid region of Northeastern Brazil,and compare the species in relation to mycelial growth,pathogenicity and virulence.A total of 115 isolates were sampled and based on morphology and DNA sequence data(ITS and EF1-α)seven taxa were identified,namely,Botryosphaeria dothidea,B.mamane,Fusicoccum fabicercianum,Neofusicoccum parvum,N.brasiliense sp.nov,Neoscytalidium dimidiatum and Pseudofusicoccum stromaticum.B.dothidea and P.stromaticum were the most commonly isolated species,which represented 37%and 33%of all isolates respectively.B.mamane is reported for the first time in association with mango diseases worldwide.There were significant differences among the species obtained in this study in relation to optimum temperature for mycelial growth and mycelial growth rates.All species were pathogenic on mango fruit.There were significant differences in virulence among the species,with Ne.dimidiatum and N.parvum being the most virulent species,while P.stromaticum was the least virulent.