First Report of Anthracnose Caused by Colletotrichum sichuanensis on Phaseolus lunatus in Brazil

Abstract

The lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus) is of cultural importance in the Northeast region of Brazil as source of income and food for the population. Among the diseases impacting lima bean production, anthracnose caused by the genus Colletotrichum is among the most prominent. In 2015, lima-bean leaves with typical symptoms of anthracnose were collected in five states of northeastern Brazil, including Pernambuco, Paraiba, Piaui, Ceara and Alagoas. The symptoms are characterized by reddish spots on the leaf blade and along the primary and secondary veins, resulting in wrinkled leaves. On pods and stems, the lesions are depressed and reddish with developmental acervuli. Small pieces of leaf tissue from the periphery of the lesions were surface disinfested (1 min in 70% alcohol, 2 min in 1% NaOCl, and rinsed with sterile water), plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA), and incubated at 25°C for 7 days. Colonies that were morphologically similar to Colletotrichum spp. were transferred to PDA and preserved. In order to i...