Pathogenicity and transmission of fungi detected on Passiflora alata seeds

João José Parisi,Ana Carolina Firmino,Laura Molina Meletti,Ivan Herman Fischer,Priscila Fratin Medina

doi:10.1590/1808-1657000702017

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Passion fruit is usually propagated by seeds because of the ease and lower cost in seedling production. However, the seed is the most efficient agent for the spread of pathogens. The damages from seed-borne diseases occur mainly during the germination stages or at the formation of seedlings in nurseries. Considering the need for knowledge on the pathology of sweet passion fruit seeds, the objective was to evaluate the transmission and pathogenicity of the fungi Alternaria sp., Botrytis fabae, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Fusarium spp. and Lasiodiplodia theobromae, known as potentially pathogenic to this crop, and isolated from sweet passion fruit seeds. Therefore, tests on seed health, germination and seedling emergence in a sterilized commercial substrate were conducted using seeds from this species, inoculated with those fungal isolates. Leaves, stems and fruit from this plant were also inoculated with the same fungi. Alternaria sp., Fusarium spp. and L. theobromae were identified in seedlings obtained from inoculated seeds, confirming the transmission of these fungi by seeds. L. theobromae was also considered the most harmful fungus to passion fruit crop, as it causes seed rot and other disease symptoms on the leaves, stem and fruit. These findings inferred that healthy seeds of sweet passion fruit are essential for producing seedlings and to prevent the spread of the diseases caused by these fungi to exempt areas.

Highlights

Sweet passion fruit (Passiflora alata Curtis) is a species native to South America, especially Brazil, whose cultivation has been expanding because of the price reached by the fruit (BERNACCI et al, 2015)
Considering the lack of literature on this subject, the aim of this research consisted in obtaining information on the transmission and pathogenicity of fungi isolated from P. alata seeds
Even with the sequencing of two regions in the DNA, it was not possible to identify the species of the fungi belonging to the genera Alternaria and Fusarium

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Sweet passion fruit (Passiflora alata Curtis) is a species native to South America, especially Brazil, whose cultivation has been expanding because of the price reached by the fruit (BERNACCI et al, 2015). ROLIM et al (2002) identified in the seeds of commercial fruit of yellow passion fruit in the region of Marília, SP, fungi of the genera Alternaria, Aspergillus, Colletotrichum, Fusarium, Nigrospora, Penicillium, Phoma and Pestalotia. Several genera known as pathogenic to the culture, with emphasis for Cladosporium and Fusarium, have been detected in passion fruit seeds (FISCHER; REZENDE, 2008). These same authors detected Cephalosporium, Fusarium, Penicillium and Phoma in seeds of commercial fruit of sweet passion fruit. Considering the lack of literature on this subject, the aim of this research consisted in obtaining information on the transmission and pathogenicity of fungi isolated from P. alata seeds

MATERIAL AND METHODS

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

CONCLUSIONS