Epidemic outbreaks of olive anthracnose in central Italy

In autumn 2001, episodic but severe outbreaks of olive anthracnose were observed in Umbria (central Italy). After an epidemic burst in the early 1950s, olive anthracnose has remained endemic in a few southern regions, including Apulia, Calabria and Sardinia. The causal agent of this disease, first r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of plant pathology 2003-12, Vol.85 (4), p.280-280
Main Authors: Agosteo, GE, Macri, C, Faedda, R, Pennisi, A M, Cacciola, SO, di San Lio, GM
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Colletotrichum gloeosporioides
Gloeosporium olivarum
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Summary:In autumn 2001, episodic but severe outbreaks of olive anthracnose were observed in Umbria (central Italy). After an epidemic burst in the early 1950s, olive anthracnose has remained endemic in a few southern regions, including Apulia, Calabria and Sardinia. The causal agent of this disease, first referred to as Gloeosporium olivarum Alm., was subsequently transferred to the species complex Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) Penz. et Sacc.. Another Colletotrichum species, C. acutatum J. H. Simmonds, was reported as the major causal agent of olive anthracnose in Spain and Portugal. Conversely, on the basis of biochemical and molecular data, we have recently concluded that the causal agent of olive anthracnose in southern Italy is a Colletotrichum sp. distinct from both C. gloeosporioides and C. acutatum. In this study, RAPD-PCR analysis and polyacrylamide gel elecphoresis of mycelial isozymes were used to compare olive isolates from Umbria with reference isolates of various Colletotrichum species from olive and other hosts. Eight isozymes were tested and 16 decamer primers (Operon Technologies, Alameda, CA, USA) were used for RAPD-PCR. Olive isolates from Umbria showed electrophoretic phenotypes and RAPD-PCR banding patterns very similar to those of the Colletotrichum sp. responsible for olive anthracnose in southern Italy. Moreover, like this Colletotrichum sp., they were benomyl-resistant (MIC > 10 super(2) mu g ml super(-1)) and grew slowly in culture (radial growth rate on potato-dextrose agar at 24 degree C 7-8 mm day super(-1)), with an optimum growth temperature at 24 degree C. This host-specific Colletotrichum sp. is reported for the first time in central Italy.
ISSN:1125-4653