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Characterization of a Colletotrichum population causing anthracnose disease on Olive in northern Tunisia
Author(s) -
Chattaoui M.,
Raya M.C.,
Bouri M.,
Moral J.,
PerezRodriguez M.,
Trapero A.,
Msallem M.,
Rhouma A.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1111/jam.13096
Subject(s) - colletotrichum acutatum , biology , virulence , colletotrichum , phylogenetic tree , colletotrichum gloeosporioides , pathogenicity , botany , population , fungi imperfecti , microbiology and biotechnology , inoculation , horticulture , gene , genetics , demography , sociology
Abstract Aims To phenotypically, physiologically and molecularly characterize the causal agent of olive anthracnose in the northern Tunisia and to study its genetic variability and pathogenicity. Methods and Results A total of 43 isolates were obtained from symptomatic olives collected from four regions in northern Tunisia. A range of morphological and physiological characteristics was recorded; and a phylogenetic study, based on the sequence analysis of both internal transcribed spacers and TUB 2 gene regions, was performed. Of the 43 isolates, 41 were identified as Colletotrichum acutatum s.s , and only two were affiliated to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides s.s . Two more representative Spanish isolates, included for comparison, were identified as Colletotrichum godetiae . Using six inter‐simple‐sequence‐repeat markers, homogeneity between isolates from different locations and within the same species was recorded. In pathogenicity and virulence studies, C. gloeosporioides s.s was found to be less virulent, while the Spanish C. godetiae isolate was significantly more virulent than the Tunisian C. acutatum s.s . Conclusions Olive anthracnose in the North of Tunisia is mainly caused by C. acutatum s.s species. Significance and Impact of the Study This is the first study of olive anthracnose in Tunisia, which combines both phenotypic and molecular approaches. Colletotrichum acutatum s.s group was recorded for the first time in the country as the causal agent of olive anthracnose.