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Oomycete species associated with Theobroma cacao crops in Colombia
Author(s) -
Ramírez Martínez Julie,
Cárdenas Toquica Martha,
GuevaraSuarez Marcela,
Duarte Diannefair,
Victorino Jimenez Laura Daniela,
Argüello Bernal Bibian Katherine,
Gutiérrez Rodríguez Edwin,
Restrepo Restrepo Silvia
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plant pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.928
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1365-3059
pISSN - 0032-0862
DOI - 10.1111/ppa.13410
Subject(s) - phytophthora palmivora , oomycete , theobroma , biology , phytophthora , pythium , botany , cytochrome c oxidase subunit i , phy , internal transcribed spacer , species richness , phylogenetic tree , pathogen , ecology , microbiology and biotechnology , physical layer , telecommunications , biochemistry , gene , computer science , wireless
The study of oomycetes associated with crops is highly important due to the economic losses they might cause. In cacao, the genus Phytophthora has been extensively studied, but little is known about other genera and species of oomycetes associated with this plant. This study aimed to determine the oomycetes’ diversity present in Colombian cacao crops. A total of 146 isolates were obtained from diseased plants and soil in 11 departments. Analysis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and cytochrome oxidase subunit I ( coxI ) sequences was performed along with the assessment of morphological characteristics. Nine species were identified, distributed in four genera: Phytophthora ( P . palmivora , 54%; P . nicotianae , 1%), Phytopythium ( Phy . chamaehyphon , 15%; Phy . cucurbitacearum , 9%; Phy . vexans , 7%; Phy . helicoides , 1%), Globisporangium ( G . splendens , 3%), and Pythium ( Py . delicense , 1%; Py . inflatum ,1%). Additionally, an unidentified and possibly new species of Phytophthora (5%) and three unidentified species of Phytopythium (3%) were found. This is the first report of Globisporangium , Phytopythium , and Pythium in cacao crops of Colombia and the first report of the species Phy . chamaehyphon in the country. Interestingly, some isolates of Phytopythium spp. were isolated from necrotic leaves and vascular section of stems, which may suggest a role in cacao diseases traditionally associated with Phytophthora . Also, it is proposed that the new species of Phytophthora may be contributing significantly to black pod disease in Colombian cacao crops, and we highlight that the study of P . palmivora is urgent because of its distribution all over the country.