Meteorological Conditions in a Temperate Climate for Colletotrichum acutatum, Strawberry Pathogen Distribution and Susceptibility of Different Cultivars to Anthracnose

Abstract

Previously, Colletotrichum spp. has been considered a warmer climate pathogen as these meteorological conditions are most optimal for its development. However, climate change is fostering the spread of plant disease and complicating the ability to predict meteorological conditions for disease development. This study aims to determine meteorological conditions for anthracnose development, evaluate the susceptibility of different strawberry cultivars and detect the distribution of strawberry pathogens in temperate climate conditions. The experiment was carried out in the Institute of Horticulture Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry (LAMMC) in Lithuania during the 2018–2019 strawberry growing season. To evaluate the contamination levels (fungal and bacterial pathogens) of strawberry plant parts, soil and susceptibility to Colletotrichumacutatum, samples were collected at four different locations in Lithuania from eleven cultivars. The results revealed that Colletotrichum spp. was not equally prevalent in the soil at all strawberry farms tested. The evaluation indicated that strawberry leaves and stems were similarly contaminated with pathogenic fungi. The most frequently isolated fungi from the leaves and stems were Mycosphaerella spp., Alternaria spp., Fusarium spp., Colletotrichum spp., Phytophthora spp., and Botrytis spp. Our study confirmed that the response of cultivar susceptibility to C. acutatum was unequal. The most suitable temperature for C.acutatum development was 25 °C. Monitoring of meteorological conditions, evaluation of inoculum source and appropriate cultivar selection could reduce or avoid yield losses caused by the C. acutatum.

Morphocultural and pathogenic characterization of Colletotrichum gossypii and Colletotrichum gossypii var. cephalosporioides under different temperatures

“…Among the main characteristics used by taxonomists are conidia morphology, considering size and shape and morphology of the appressoria; presence or absence of arrows; formation of sclerotia, acervuli, and teleomorph stage; coloration and texture of the colony; pigment production, and growth rate (Kamei et al, 2014). A factor that significantly influences the development of the Colletotrichum genus is temperature being one of the main climatic variables responsible for infection and colonization by this pathogen (Morkeliūne et al, 2021). In this work, isolates 86 and 105 of C. gossypii var.…”

“…Temperature plays an essential role in Colletotrichum species complex development, spore germination, and appressorium formation (Morkeliūne et al, 2021). In the literature, it is considered that the different species of anthracnose are pathogen adapted to warmer climate zone, with an optimal temperature of 26.7-32 °C.…”

“…Regarding the effect of temperature on sporulation, studies consider that the disease caused by Colletotrichum spp. is harmful under milder temperature conditions (Gadaga et al, 2020;Morkeliūne et al, 2021). For fungi of the genus Colletotrichum, the optimal temperature for sporulation and conidia germination can vary greatly (Almeida et al, 2020).…”

Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity, Total Phenolic and Flavonoid Contents of Extracts of Endophytic Fungi Associated with Tinospora crispa (L.) Hook. f. & Thomson

“…Colletotrichum is endophytic and plant pathogenic [51]- [53]. It is distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions worldwide [54], [55]. Colletotric acid is an antimicrobial compound from Colletotrichum gloeosporioides isolated from Artemisia mongolica.…”

Effect of Global Warming on the Yields of Strawberry in Queensland: A Mini-Review

“…The crop is important in China and the United States and throughout much of Europe. The plant is adapted to a wide range of environments, with commercial production in areas with a cool or warm temperate climate, a cool or warm subtropical climate or a Mediterranean climate [4][5][6][7][8].…”