Colletotrichum spp. and other fungi associated with anthracnose on Coffea arabica L. in Mérida State, Venezuela

Abstract

In tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, diseases can be major limiting factors to coffee (Coffea arabica) production, a highly valued crop internationally. Our aim was to identify Colletotrichum spp. and other fungal species associated with Coffee Berry Disease (CBD) and anthracnose on coffee twigs, which can greatly inhibit crop production. Concatenated phylogenetic analyses of ApMat and GS loci were used to identify two Colletotrichum species. Colletotrichum siamense was isolated from symptomatic mature and green berries that were both infested and uninfected with Coffee Berry Borer (CBB) and from twigs displaying anthracnose symptoms. Colletrotrichum alienum was isolated from twigs showing anthracnose symptoms. Along with these two Colletotrichum species, association of Fusarium incarnatum (= Fusarium semitectum) and Fusarium solani was found. Identification of Fusarium species was obtained through combined datasets of partial TEF1 and RPB2. Fusarium isolates came from ripe coffee fruits displaying symptoms of CBD, infested or not with CBB, and coffee twigs. In addition, concatenation of four gene regions (ITS, TEF1, CAL, TUB2) allowed the identification of another fungus, together with isolates from coffee twigs with anthracnose, Diaporthe pseudomangiferae. This is the first report of Colletotrichum siamense and Colletotrichum alienum, along with the fungi Fusarium solani and Diaporthe pseudomangiferae, associated with berry diseases on Coffea arabica in the state of Mérida, Venezuela.

The Fungal, Nutritional, and Metabolomic Diagnostics of the Oil Palm Elaeis guineensis Affected by Bud Rot Disease in Esmeraldas, Ecuador

“…Fungal diversity in oil palms plays a key role in the development of rot diseases, as described in the identification of several fungal pathogens, whilst in addition to the most abundant groups, Colletotrichum spp., an important plant pathogen, appears as the predominant group in diseased samples [ 58 ]. As the literature dictates, pathogens of the genus Colletotrichum are responsible for anthracnose diseases in various economically important crops [ 59 ], such as oil palms. Anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum spp., is an important disease that affects palm trees especially since the fungus can survive in the debris of the previous year’s infected bunches for up to 8 months [ 60 ].…”

Mango anthracnose disease: the current situation and direction for future research

“…Johnst., and C. theobromicola Delacr., were isolated from avocados ( Grice et al, 2022 ). In Venezuela, Coffee Berry Borer -infested and -uninfested branches and twigs, as well as ripe and green berries with indications of anthracnose, were all found to be positive for C. siamense and C. alienum ( Castillo et al, 2022 ). The dragon fruit, or Hylocereus undatus , is a species of the Hylocereus that often has a white pulp and scarlet or pink skin.…”