Brazilian anthracnosis: identification, characterization and variability of causal agents

• Grant number: 11/11629-1
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: October 01, 2011 - September 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Nelson Sidnei Massola Júnior
• Grantee: Nelson Sidnei Massola Júnior
• Home Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Assoc. researchers: Alessandro de Mello Varani ; Claudia Barros Monteiro Vitorello ; Hugo José Tozze Júnior ; Juliana Ramiro

Abstract

Colletotrichum is the causal agent of anthracnose on leaves, stems, fruits and seeds of numerous plant species, including several important crops. Accurate species identification is critical to understand the epidemiology and to develop effective control of these diseases. Morphologically-based identification of Colletotrichum species has always been problematic, because there are few reliable characters and many of these characters are plastic. Recent papers have shown that a strong, solid characterization is obtained when different methods are employed together, the so-called polyphasic approach. This project will apply the polyphasic approach on several Colletotrichum populations associated to various crops in Brazil, like fruits, soybean, pepper and, "guarana" (Paullina cupana). More than 400 isolates will be studied. Characterizations will be standardized according to a recent paper, allowing reproduction and comparison with other studies. Cultural, morphological, pathogenic and, molecular (PCR and multi-loci phylogeny) characterizations will be performed. Results will allow accurate definition of the etiology, showing whether the studied anthracnoses are caused just by one or a complex of species. Besides, it will be possible to analyze inter- and intraspecific phylogenetic relationships among the isolates. This will allow to draw inferences regarding the evolution among the revealed species. Last but not least, the results will show the complexity behind the etiology of these anthracnoses used as models, suggesting the need for further studies on other anthracnoses occurring in Brazil. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ROGERIO, F.; CIAMPI-GUILLARDI, M.; BARBIERI, M. C. G.; BRAGANCA, C. A. D.; SEIXAS, C. D. S.; ALMEIDA, A. M. R.; MASSOLA, JR., N. S. Phylogeny and variability of Colletotrichum truncatum associated with soybean anthracnose in Brazil. Journal of Applied Microbiology, v. 122, n. 2, p. 402-415, FEB 2017. Web of Science Citations: 6.

BRAGANCA, CARLOS A. D.; DAMM, ULRIKE; BARONCELLI, RICCARDO; MASSOLA JUNIOR, NELSON S.; CROUS, PEDRO W. Species of the Colletotrichum acutatum complex associated with anthracnose diseases of fruit in Brazil. FUNGAL BIOLOGY, v. 120, n. 4, p. 547-561, APR 2016. Web of Science Citations: 23.

GIL RODRIGUES DOS SANTOS; HUGO JOSÉ TOZZE JÚNIOR; DANILA ALVES CORRÊA DE SÁ; GLEIBER QUINTÃO FURTADO; NELSON SIDNEI MASSOLA JÚNIOR. Etiology and pathogenicity of two different isolates of Colletotrichum spp. obtained from physic nut seeds. JOURNAL OF SEED SCIENCE, v. 35, n. 2, p. 139-146, 2013.