Endophytic and pathogenic isolates of the cacao fungal pathogen Moniliophthora perniciosa (Tricholomataceae) are indistinguishable based on genetic and physiological analysis

Abstract

ABSTRACT. We evaluated the genetic and physiological variability of Moniliophthora perniciosa obtained from healthy and diseased branches of cacao (Theobroma cacao) plants. The diversity of the isolates was evaluated by RAPD technique and by studies of virulence and exoenzyme production. The genetic variability of endophytic and pathogenic M. perniciosa was evaluated in association with pathogenicity assays. RAPD analysis showed eight genetic groups, which were not related to plant disease status (healthy versus diseased branches). Isolates from cacao were included in three groups, excluding isolates from other host plants. Pathogenicity and enzyme analysis showed that the virulence of the isolates is not Endophytic and pathogenic isolates of M. perniciosa related to exoenzyme production. This is the first evidence that M. perniciosa colonizes healthy parenchymatic tissues, showing that endophytic behavior may occur in this species.

Of mushrooms and chocolate trees: aetiology and phylogeny of witches' broom and frosty pod diseases of cacao

“…The hypothesis that M . perniciosa evolved as an endophyte has also gained support from a recent study that identified isolates of the fungus from non‐diseased branches of cacao (Lana et al ., ), mirroring the results obtained in a survey of the endophytes associated with the wild host T. gileri when M . roreri was recovered from healthy pods and stems (Evans et al ., ).…”

Endophytic fungi harbored in Panax notoginseng : diversity and potential as biological control agents against host plant pathogens of root-rot disease

“…Most of the symbionts may have helped for host plants. It has also been confirmed that the pathogenic–endophytic lifestyles of some fungi are interchangeable [61], [62]. These phenomena are caused by many factors, such as environment changes, chemical inducers, and molecular and genetic bases [63], [64].…”

First characterization of endophytic Corynespora cassiicola isolates with variant cassiicolin genes recovered from rubber trees in Brazil

“…However, the isolates collected from asymptomatic tissues were not tested for pathogenicity. In several cases, endophytes inoculated onto their host plant under controlled conditions were found to be pathogenic (Mostert et al 2000;Photita et al 2004;Lana et al 2011). With regard to C. cassiicola, Dixon et al (2009) Data presented are means ± the standard error of three independent replicates.…”