PCR-Based Detection and Characterization of the Fungal Pathogens Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Colletotrichum capsici Causing Anthracnose in Papaya (Carica papaya L.) in the Yucatan Peninsula

Abstract

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is the common causal agent of anthracnose in papaya (Carica papaya L.) fruits, and infection by this fungal pathogen results in severe post-harvest losses. In the Yucatán peninsula (Mexico) a different Colletotrichum species was isolated from papaya fruits with atypical anthracnose lesions. The DNAs from a variety of Colletotrichum isolates producing typical and atypical lesions, respectively, were amplified by PCR with C.gloeosporioides-specific primers. All isolates from typical anthracnose lesions yielded a 450 bp PCR product, but DNAs from isolates with atypical lesions failed to produce an amplification product. For further characterization, the rDNA 5.8S-ITS region was amplified by PCR and processed for sequencing and RFLP analysis, respectively, to verify the identity of the papaya anthracnose pathogens. The results revealed unequivocally the existence of two Colletotrichum species causing anthracnose lesions on papaya fruits: C. gloeosporioides and C. capsici. PCR-RFLP using the restriction endonuclease MspI reliably reproduced restriction patterns specific for C. capsici or C. gloeosporioides. The generation of RFLP patterns by MspI (or AluI or RsaI) is a rapid, accurate, and unequivocal method for the detection and differentiation of these two Colletotrichum species.

Situación actual de Colletotrichums spp. en México: Taxonomía, caracterización, patogénesis y control

“…The reported species with a greater number of hosts are C. truncatum (6 hosts) and C. gloeosporioides (5 hosts), according to preliminary identification using the ITS region (primers ITS1-ITS4) and then using CcapF-CcapR and Cglnt-ITS4, respectively (Torres-Calzada et al, 2011b;Tapia-Tussell et al, 2008). Las especies reportadas con mayor número de hospedantes son C. truncatum (6 hospedantes) y C. gloeosporioides (5 hospedantes) basado en la identificación inicial con la region ITS (iniciadores ITS1-ITS4) y posterior uso de CcapF-CcapR y Cglnt-ITS4, respectivamente (Torres-Calzada et al, 2011b;Tapia-Tussell et al, 2008).…”

“…Las especies reportadas con mayor número de hospedantes son C. truncatum (6 hospedantes) y C. gloeosporioides (5 hospedantes) basado en la identificación inicial con la region ITS (iniciadores ITS1-ITS4) y posterior uso de CcapF-CcapR y Cglnt-ITS4, respectivamente (Torres-Calzada et al, 2011b;Tapia-Tussell et al, 2008).…”

Characterization of a cDNA encoding cystatin with antifungal activity from Siam tulip Curcuma alismatifolia

“…C. capsici is known to cause the anthracnose disease for many economically important plants such as pepper (Capsicum spp.) [27][28][29] , and papaya (Carica papaya) 30,31 . The fungus P. grisea (teleomorph = Magnaporthe grisea) is known to be the causal agent of the rice blast disease.…”

PCR based detection of Phomopsis vexans (Sacc. & Syd.) - The causative agent of leaf blight and fruit rot disease of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)

“…All such techniques commonly utilises ITS r DNA to construct PCR primers because of the species specificity of this region. PCR based detection assay has been used for characterization of the fungal pathogens such as Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and C. capsici causing anthracnose in Papaya (Tussell et al 2008). Shishido et al (2010) employed PCR to detect and quantify Phomopsis sclerotioides in plants and soils.…”