Caracterization ans identification of Colletotrichum species associated to Paulinia cupana anthracnose

• Grant number: 11/20999-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2012
• End date: January 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Nelson Sidnei Massola Júnior
• Grantee: Carolina de Cássia Pani Medeiros
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Colletotrichum guaranicola is the causal agent of anthracnose on leaves and fruits of guarana (Paulinia cupana), an important crop in the Brazilian agricultural business. Accurate species identification is critical to understand the epidemiology and developing effective control of this disease. The conventional identification of Colletotrichum species is based on morphological characters, which are not highly reliable and make the identification problematic. Recent papers combine different methods in studies of Colletotrichum species, the so-called polyphasic approach, giving higher reliability to the characterization and identification. This project proposes to apply the polyphasic approach to Colletotrichum isolates from the guarana crop. Cultural, morphological, and molecular (PCR and sequencing) characterizations will be performed. Results will allow an accurate definition of the etiology, showing whether the studied anthracnose is caused just by one or a complex of species. Understanding the etiology of this anthracnose will serve as input for the definition of more efficient control strategies.(AU)