Diversity of pathogenic and endophytic Colletotrichum isolates from Licania tomentosa in Brazil

Abstract

Licania tomentosa (Chrysobalanaceae), also known as “oiti,” is a forest tree mainly used for urban afforestation in Brazil. Although anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is the main disease that threatens this tree, the identification of the species was based on morphological characteristics only. Owing to the need to use the molecular approach to pinpoint the identity of this pathogen with precision, the aim of this study was to identify endophytic and pathogenic Colletotrichum isolates from L. tomentosa based on both morphological and molecular data. For prior identification, partial sequences of the GAPDH region were obtained of all the 35 isolates (10 endophytic and 25 pathogenic). After analysis, ten isolates, representative of each clade, were selected for multilocus phylogenetic analysis (ACT, CAL, CHS‐1, GAPDH, TUB2, SOD2 and ITS). In addition, a tree based on the ApMat region was obtained for comparison with the multilocus tree. Morphological characterization (colony growth, conidial size and appressoria shape) was also performed for each species. To prove pathogenicity, L. tomentosa leaves were inoculated on the adaxial surface by mycelial plugs and conidial suspension. All isolates obtained belong to the Colletotrichum gloeosporioides complex. The Apmat tree has the same topology as the multilocus tree, allowing for the discrimination of the different species of Colletotrichum on L. tomentosa. Endophytic isolates of C. fructicola, C. queenslandicum, and C. siamense were acquired whereas pathogenic isolates were identified as C. siamense and C. tropicale, although all species were pathogenic on the wounded leaves of L. tomentosa. This is the first worldwide report of this Colletotrichum species associated with L. tomentosa and the first recording of C. queenslandicum in Brazil.

Evaluation of the pathogenicity of endophytic fungi isolated from spines of rattan (Calamus castaneus) against other plant hosts

“…For example, Prihastuti et al (2009) have reported that endophytic C. fructicola , Colletotrichum siamense and Colletotrichum asianum isolated from healthy coffee berries ( Coffea arabica ) were pathogenic to coffee berries. Similarly, Waculicz‐Andrade et al (2017) and Lisboa et al (2018) have reported that endophytic Colletotrichum spp. were pathogenic to their hosts, citrus trees and Licania tomentosa , respectively.…”

Erythrina variegata is a new host species to Colletotrichum siamense in Brazil

“…othonianum, Annona muricata, Ann. squamosa, Coffea sp., Fragaria × ananassa (Farr & Rossman, 2019) and Licania tomentosa (Lisboa et al., 2018). Colletotrichum erythrinae and C. gloeosporioides are known to parasitize E. variegata (Farr & Rossman, 2019).…”

“…To isolate the fungus, leaf fragments were transferred to a Petri dish containing potato dextrose agar (PDA) and incubated at 25°C under 12‐hr photoperiod. For isolation, the single conidial cultures and the morphological characterization were carried out according to Lisboa, Silva, Pinho, Pereira, and Furtado (2018). The isolates (COAD 2976 and COAD 2978) were deposited at Collection Otávio de Almeida Drumond at the Universidade Federal de Viçosa.…”

“…The latter three primer pairs were used according to Lisboa et al. (2018). Amplicons were sequenced by using Macrogen Sequencing Service (Macrogen).…”

Pest categorisation of Colletotrichum fructicola

“…( 2018 ) Licania tomentosa Chrysobalanaceae Oitizeiro Lisboa et al. ( 2018 ) Limonium sinuatum Plumbaginaceae Wavyleaf sea lavender CDFA ( 2016 ) Weir et al. ( 2012 ), Fuentes‐Aragón et al.…”