Causal Agent Of Anthracnose Disease Research Articles

Penggunaan Bakteri Kitinolitik sebagai Pengendali Hayati Colletotrichum capsici pada Tanaman Cabai

Use of Chitinolytic Bacteria as Biological Control of Colletotrichum capsici on Chili PlantsColletotrichum capsici is known as the causal agent of anthracnose disease in chili plant and may cause reduction of crop yield. Chitinolytic bacteria, namely Serratia marcescens KAHN 15.12, Bacillus thuringiensis SAHA 12.12, and BAE 36 were reported to have antagonistic activity against C. capsici. Therefore, a study was conducted to determine the potential of chitinolytic bacteria on controlling C. capsici on chili plants in greenhouse experiment. Three bacterial isolates used as biocontrol agent was formulated by using talcum as carrier materials. The methodologies consisted of characterization of bacterial isolates, formulation of biocontrol agent, viability test of bacterial isolate, efficacy of biocontrol agents in the laboratory and in the greenhouse. Disease severity in the laboratory reached 64% when chili treated with isolate formulation of BAE 36. In the greenhouse, BAE 36 isolate formulation and consortium formulation were able to suppress infection of C. capsici; each was indicated by disease incidence of 25% and 50%, respectively. These results indicated that chitinolytic bacterial formulations could be potencial as biocontrol agents of C. capsici.

Three Colletotrichum Species, Including a New Species, are Associated to Leaf Anthracnose of Rubber Tree in Hainan, China.

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and C. acutatum have been reported to be causal agents of anthracnose disease of rubber tree. Recent investigations have shown that both C. gloeosporioides and C. acutatum are species complexes. The identities of Colletotrichum species causing anthracnose disease of rubber tree in Hainan, China, are unknown. In this study, 106 isolates obtained from rubber tree with symptoms of anthracnose were collected from 12 counties of Hainan and identified at the species complex level based on the ITS sequences and colony morphologies. Seventy-four isolates were identified as C. gloeosporioides species complex and the other 32 isolates as C. acutatum species complex. Forty-two isolates were selected for further multilocus phylogenetic analyses in order to identify the isolates to the species level. Twenty-six isolates from the C. gloeosporioides species complex were characterized for partial sequences of seven gene regions (ACT, TUB2, CHS-1, GAPDH, ITS, ApMat, and GS), and the other 16 isolates from the C. acutatum species complex for five gene regions (ACT, TUB2, CHS-1, GAPDH, and ITS). Three species were identified: C. siamense and C. fructicola from the C. gloeosporioides species complex, and a new species C. wanningense from the C. acutatum species complex. Artificial inoculation of rubber tree leaves confirmed the pathogenicity of the three species. The present study improves the understanding of species causing anthracnose on rubber tree and provides useful information for the effective control of the disease.

Bacillus sp. strain M10 as a potential biocontrol agent protecting chili pepper and tomato fruits from anthracnose disease caused by Colletotrichum capsici

Bacillus sp. strain M10 was observed to produce an antifungal protein that inhibits the growth of Colletotrichum capsici, which is the causal agent of anthracnose disease of chili pepper and tomato. Ammonium sulfate precipitation, anion exchange chromatography, and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that the protein was approximately 55.4 kDa. The matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis and a subsequent sequence database search indicated the antifungal protein was most similar to the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens vegetative catalase (KatA) protein. Light microscopy observation revealed that the antifungal protein induced abnormal hyphal elongation and conidial swelling and rupture. The protein considerably inhibited anthracnose development and protected the fruits from C. capsici infection. Thus, Bacillus sp. strain M10 and/or its putative catalase may be useful as a post-harvest biocontrol agent that protects chili pepper and tomato fruits from anthracnose disease caused by C. capsici.

Effect of natural and synthetic Brassinosteroids on strawberry immune response against Colletotrichum acutatum

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are steroidal essential compounds for plant growth and development. It was shown that the exogenous applications of BRs induce protection against different pathogens and can give plants tolerance/resistance to different abiotic stresses. The aim of this work was to evaluate the protective effect against the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum acutatum, the causal agent of anthracnose disease, on strawberry plants treated with 24-epibrasinolide (EP24) and a formulation based on a brassinosteroid spirostanic analogue DI-31 (BB16). Treatment with both compounds induced a defense response in strawberry plants of the cv. Pajaro against avirulent isolate (M11) of C. acutatum, being more effective at the lower concentration of both steroids (0.1 mg l−1), although the analogue BB16 showed a stronger effect than EP24. The evaluation of biochemical defense markers showed that strawberry plants treated with EP24 and BB16 increased the production of H2O2, O2.-, NO, calcium oxalate crystals and higher callose and lignin deposition as compared to the control plants. However, stomatal closure was only observed in plants treated with BB16. These results suggests that BB16 and EP24 can be used for the activation of innate immunity in strawberry plants, as a new strategy for crop health protection management, alternative to agrochemicals.

Physiological studies of Colletotrichum musae the causal agent of Anthracnose disease of banana

Physiological studies of Colletotrichum musae the causal agent of Anthracnose disease of banana

Colletotrichum fructicola, a Member of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides sensu lato, is the Causal Agent of Anthracnose and Soft Rot in Avocado Fruits cv. “Hass”

The filamentous Ascomycota Colletotrichum gloeosporioides sensu lato is a fungus that has been reported worldwide as a causal agent of anthracnose disease in avocado and other crops. In Mexico, this species affects fruits from an early stage of development in the orchard until the post-harvest stage. Although fungicides are continuously applied to control Colletotrichum species, pericarp cankers and soft rot mesocarp in fruits are still frequently observed. Considering the lack of a precise description of the causative agent, the aim of the current study was to determine the pathogens involved in this symptomatology. Twenty-four isolates were consistently obtained from the pericarp of avocado fruits cv. “Hass” collected in the central avocado-producing area of Mexico. Morphological features such as colony growth, conidia size, and mycelial appressorium were assessed. Bayesian multilocus phylogenetic analyses were performed using amplified sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA; actin, chitin synthase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase partial genes; and APn2-Mat1-2 intergenic spacer and mating type Mat1-2 partial gene from the nine selected isolates. In addition, fruits were inoculated with a conidial suspension and reproducible symptoms confirmed the presence of Colletotrichum fructicola in this area. This pathogenic species can now be added to those previously reported in the country, such as C. acutatum, C. boninense, C. godetiae, C. gloeosporioides, and C. karstii. Disease management programs to reduce the incidence of anthracnose should include C. fructicola to determine its response to fungicides that are routinely applied, considering that the appearance of new species is affecting the commercial quality of the fruits and shifting the original population structure.

Morphological and Molecular Identification of the Causal Agent of Anthracnose Disease of Avocado in Kenya.

Anthracnose disease of avocado contributes to a huge loss of avocado fruits due to postharvest rot in Kenya. The causal agent of this disease has not been clear but presumed to be Colletotrichum gloeosporioides as reported in other regions where avocado is grown. The fungus mainly infects fruits causing symptoms such as small blackish spots, “pepper spots,” and black spots with raised margin which coalesce as infection progresses. Due to economic losses associated with the disease and emerging information of other species of fungi as causal agents of the disease, this study was aimed at identifying causal agent(s) of the disease. A total of 80 fungal isolates were collected from diseased avocado fruits in Murang'a County, the main avocado growing region in Kenya. Forty-six isolates were morphologically identified as Colletotrichum spp. based on their cultural characteristics, mainly whitish, greyish, and creamish colour and cottony/velvety mycelia on the top side of the culture and greyish cream with concentric zonation on the reverse side. Their spores were straight with rounded end and nonseptate. Thirty-four isolates were identified as Pestalotiopsis spp. based on their cultural characteristics: whitish grey mycelium with black fruiting structure on the upper side and greyish black one on the lower side and septate spores with 3-4 septa and 2 or 3 appendages at one end. Further molecular studies using ITS indicated Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Colletotrichum boninense, and Pestalotiopsis microspora as the causal agents of anthracnose disease in avocado. However, with this being the first report, there is a need to conduct further studies to establish whether there is coinfection or any interaction thereof.

Morphological and molecular identification of Colletotrichum species associated with cassava anthracnose in Thailand

AbstractThe objective of this study was to identify the causal agent of anthracnose disease of cassava in Thailand. The study was carried out by collecting cassava samples with anthracnose symptoms from various planting areas including 10 districts of eight provinces in Thailand. One hundred and thirty‐six Colletotrichum samples were isolated from cassava anthracnose lesions on leaves, petioles and stems. Thirty‐eight single‐spore isolates were subsequently obtained and cultured on half potato dextrose agar for morphological and molecular characterizations. All 38 isolates were pathogenic with varying degrees of virulence when tested on detached leaves of Kasetsart 50, a susceptible cassava cultivar. Based on their growth habit, colony morphology, conidial morphology and the internal transcribed spacer sequences similarity to that of Colletotrichum accessions in the GenBank, one isolate was identified as C. capsici, one as C. lindemuthianum, two as C. aeschynomene, four as C. boninense and 28 C. gloeosporioides species complex. Geographically, the cosmopolitan C. gloeosporioides species complex was found in all regions, but other species were found only in particular regions. This is, so far, the first report of Colletotrichum complex species associated with cassava anthracnose in Thailand.

PENGARUH FRAKSI EKSTRAK DAUN PACAR CINA (AGLAIA ODORATA L.) TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN COLLETOTRICHUM CAPSICI PENYEBAB PENYAKIT ANTRAKNOSA PADA CABAI (CAPSICUM ANNUUM L.) SECARA IN VITRO

Influence of Aglaia odorata L. leaf extract on in vitro growth of chilli antrachnose fungi (Colletotrichum capsici). Pacar cina (Aglaia odorata L.) is known as one of the potential herbs as fungicides. The objective of this study was to determine The effectiveness of various leaf extract fractions of pacar cina as a fungicide to suppress the in vitro growth of C. capsici, The causal agent of anthracnose disease on chili. This study consisted of two sub-experiments. The first experiment consisted of 12 treatments: leaf extract fractions with distilled water solvent, leaf extract fractions with ethanol solvent with a concentration of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90%, propineb 0.2 % (synthetic fungicides) and control (without fungicide). The Second experiment consisted of 12 treatments: leaf extract fractions with distilled water solvent, leaf extract fractions with the solven of n-hexane at a concentration of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90%, propineb 2% (synthetic fungicides), and control (without fungicides). The treatmentswerearranged by completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Variables measured in this experiment were colony diameter and density of spores of C. capsici. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and differences between the mean values was tested by Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) with the level of 5% significant different. Additionally, leaf extract that effectively inhibited the growth of C. capsici was the fraction of the leak extract with 80% ethanol solvent and 10%, 60%, and 90% n-hexanesolvent. The result showed that the leaf extract fraction of pacar cina was potentially used as fungicide to inhibit the growth of C. capsici.

Diversity of Colletotrichum spp. isolated from chili pepper fruit exhibiting symptoms of anthracnose in Thailand

Colletotrichum spp. are causal agents of anthracnose disease in chili fruits and other tropical crops. The disease is increasing in chili fruits in Thailand and significantly reduces fruit quality and fruit production. Forty-eight isolates of Colletotrichum spp. associated with chili anthracnose were collected from different areas of Thailand during 2010–2015. Based on morphological characteristic identification, 10 isolates were shown to belong to the C. gloeosporioides species complex, 24 isolates belong to the C. acutatum species complex and 14 isolates to C. capsici. For molecular identification, two primer sets, ITS1/ITS4 and ACT528/ACT738, were used for amplification of the internal transcribed spacer of rRNA gene (ITS1–5.8S–ITS2) and partial region actin gene (ACT), respectively. The phylogenetic analysis of individual and combined ITS region and actin nucleotide sequences identified the collected isolates into 4 species: C. gloeosporioides, C. siamense, C. acutatum and C. capsici. The pathogenicity test demonstrated that all four species were pathogenic on intact unwounded and healthy fruits. These results indicated that C. capsici, C. acutatum, C. gloeosporioides and C. siamense were the causal agents of chili anthracnose disease.

Keragaman Morfologi, Genetika, dan Patogenisitas Colletotrichum acutatum PenyebabAntraknosa Cabai di Jawa dan Sumatera

Colletotrichum acutatum is known as the major causal agents of anthracnose disease of chilli pepper in Indonesia. This research was aimed to study genetic variability of C. acutatum in Java and Sumatera based on morphological and molecular characteristics and to evaluate pathogenicity of several isolates . Observation on morphological characteristics involved colour and growth of each colony as well as shape and size of conidia. Molecular identification was performed by DNA amplification using specific primer for C. acutatum , i.e. CaInt2/ITS4 followed by sequencing and nucleotide sequence analysis. Pathogenicity test for each isolate on Capsicum annuum and C. frutescens was conducted in the laboratory using detached chilli. Morphology variability was observed from 40 isolates of C. acutatum. Most of the isolates have white/beige colonies with fusiform conidia of 6.11–9.73 µm in length and 2.24­–2.73 µm in width. Pathogenicity of 3 C. acutatum isolates varies from moderate to high based on lesions size on infected chilli. Sequence analysis of 8 C. acutatum isolates indicated high homology among isolates from Java and Sumatera

Identification and molecular characterisation of Colletotrichum species from avocado, citrus and pawpaw in Ghana

Owing to previous identifications based solely on morphological characteristics, the identity of the causal agents of anthracnose disease of pawpaw and avocado in Ghana is in doubt. In addition, the pathogen has not been identified previously on citrus. In this study, isolates of the pathogen were obtained from anthracnose lesions on avocado and pawpaw, and atypical anthracnose lesions on citrus. The isolates were identified using PCR with species-specific primers, complemented by phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region and partial glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene. The pathogenicity of the isolated fungi was determined on detached matured fruits. All isolates, including those isolated from citrus, were identified as Colletotrichum gloeosporioides from the expected 480 bp PCR products amplified by PCR. The phylogenetic analysis showed that isolates from avocado and pawpaw were C. siamense, rather than C. gloeosporioides, whereas isolates from citrus were C. gloeosporioides sensu stricto. The pathogens were able to induce disease only on wounded mature fruits.

Screening of horsegram germplasm collected from Andhra Pradesh against anthracnose

Twenty-one (21) diverse horsegram accessions collected from various parts of Andhra Pradesh state were screened in greenhouse along with four check varieties against <italic>Colletotrichum dematium</italic>, causal agent of anthracnose disease. Based on Per cent disease index (PDI), one accession, IC470275 was identified as immune and the remaining accessions were either moderately resistant or susceptible. Grid maps generated using DIVA-GIS indicated the areas with highest Shannon diversity index for PDI and highest coefficient of variation recorded for horsegram accessions collected from Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. The results also indicated that diverse accessions for reaction against <italic>C. dematium</italic> can be sourced from Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.

FIRST REPORT OF COLLETOTRICHUM AENIGMA AND C. SIAMENSE, THE CAUSAL AGENT OF ANTHRACNOSE DISEASE OF DRAGON FRUIT IN THAILAND

Anthracnose disease of dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) is widespread in the orchards of the central region of Thailand, where it causes enormous crop losses. Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Palmateer et al., 2007) and C. truncatum (Guo et al., 2014) were reported as the causal agent of anthracnose disease in dragon fruit. However, in Thailand, both C. capsici and C coccodes were reported to be associated with dragon fruit (USDA, 2011). In a 2012 disease survey carried out in this country, 35 isolates of Colletotrichum spp. were recovered from lesions on both stems and fruits of H. undatus in Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom and Samut Sakhon. In pathogenicity tests, eight isolates of Colletotrichum spp. caused necrotic lesions on the mature stems and the fruits of dragon fruit plants. Colletotrichum spp., isolates R003 (LC052316), R007 (LC052317), R020 (LC052320) and BP033 (LC052313) were identified as C. siamense (GenBank accession Nos JX010257, JX010256, AY266391.1, JX010256), respectively. Isolate R024 was identified as C. truncatum (LC052321) (GenBank accession No. KF800474.1). Isolate R009 (LC052318) and i K034 (LC052322) were identified as C. aenigma (GenBank accession Nos JX258676.1 and KJ957791.1), respectively and isolate R017 (LC052319) was identified as C. gloeosporioides (GenBank accession No. GU066652.1), based on morphological (Bailey and Jeger, 1992) and molecular characteristics (White et al., 1990). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of C. aenigma and C. siamense, as the agent of anthracnose disease in dragon fruit in Thailand.

Investigation of the Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Species Complex Causing Peach Anthracnose in South Carolina.

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, C. acutatum, and C. truncatum are causal agents of anthracnose disease of peach in South Carolina, but more recent investigations show that C. gloeosporioides is a species complex that has not yet been investigated among peach isolates. A total of 28 Colletotrichum spp. isolates associated with peach fruit anthracnose were collected in 2012 from Chesnee (10 isolates), McBee (10 isolates), Monetta (2 isolates), and Ridge Spring (6 isolates), South Carolina. Morphological characteristics indicated that all 28 isolates belonged to the C. gloeosporioides species complex. Phylogenetic analysis of the combined calmodulin (CAL), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and β-tubulin (TUB2) gene sequences identified two species, C. siamense and C. fructicola. Cultural characteristics such as colony growth rate, shape and size of conidia, and appressoria from representative isolates of the two species largely matched previous descriptions for C. siamense and C. fructicola. Koch's postulates for C. siamense and C. fructicola were fulfilled, confirming pathogenicity of the two species on peach. A new, two-step multiplex PCR assay was developed to facilitate differentiation of the four known Colletotrichum spp. causing anthracnose of peach in South Carolina, including C. acutatum, C. truncatum, C. siamense, and C. fructicola. The first step distinguished C. acutatum from C. truncatum and the two members of the C. gloeosporioides species complex. The second assay distinguished C. siamense from C. fructicola isolates.

Eliciting Plant Defense on Anthracnose Disease in Chili (Capsicum annuum Linn.) by Sodium Nitroprusside Solution

The study on the induction of plant defense against to anthracnose disease of chili by sodium nitroprusside solution was investigated during pre- and post-harvest. Pre-harvest treatment was conducted by spraying the chili plants with sodium nitroprusside (SNP, nitric oxide donor) solution at 0 (control), 0.05 and 0.1 mM every 3 days for 9 times before inoculating with the spore suspension of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (the causal agent of anthracnose disease) and then sprayed with SNP again 1 time after inoculating. The results revealed that 0.1 mM SNP was the best concentration to suppress anthracnose disease by reducing disease incidence and disease index on chili leaves, and showing the lowest loss of yield caused by anthracnose disease. This founding also showed that either pathogenic inoculation or SNP treatment had ability to induce the activities of peroxidase (POD) and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) of chili leaves, particularly the chili plant inoculated with pathogenic fungi followed by treated with 0.1 mM SNP showed the highest POD and PAL activities. Post-harvest treatment was done by inoculating the mature chilli fruit with C. capcisi for 4 h and followed by dipping in 0 (control) and 4 mM SNP. All fruit samples were kept at 13C for 15 days. The results showed that chili fruit dipped with 4 mM SNP reduced disease incidence, disease index, delayed weight loss, respiration rate, ethylene production, and also maintained the changes of fruit color (ΔE) better than non-treated fruit (control). The activities of chitinase (CHI) and β-1,3-glucanase (GLU) in chili fruit were induced by SNP with the highest peak on day 6 of storage but they were not significant different with the control fruit. These results indicated that SNP might potential leading to the reduction of anthracnose disease in chili by eliciting plant defense related enzymes in both pre- and post-harvest periods.

First Report of Anthracnose on Peach Fruit Caused by Colletotrichum truncatum in South Carolina.

In July 2013, two diseased peach fruit (Prunus persica (L.) Stokes) of the cv. Sweet Dream were collected from a commercial orchard in Ridge Springs, South Carolina. Affected peaches were at or near maturity and symptoms resembled anthracnose disease caused by Colletotrichum spp. with circular sunken tan to brown lesions that were firm in touch, and had wrinkled concentric rings. The center of the lesion was covered with black acervuli containing setae. To isolate the causal agent, the two symptomatic fruit were surface-sterilized in 10% bleach for 2 min and rinsed with sterile distilled water. Lesions were cut in half, and necrotic tissue from the inside of the fruit was placed on acidified potato dextrose agar (APDA). Flat colonies covered with olive-gray to iron-gray acervuli developed on APDA incubated at 22°C with a 12-h cycle of fluorescent light and darkness. Morphology of acervuli, setae (avg. 90 to 160 μm), conidiophores (up to 90 um long), and conidia (avg. 22 × 3.8 μm) of single spore isolates were consistent with descriptions of Colletotrichum truncatum (Schwein.) Andrus & W.D. Moore (3), a causal agent of anthracnose disease. Genomic DNA was extracted from isolate Ct_RR13_1 using the MasterPure Yeast DNA Purification Kit (Epicentre, Madison, WI). The ribosomal ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region and a partial sequence of the actin gene were amplified with primer pair ITS1 and ITS4 (4), and primer pair ACT-512F and ACT-783A (2), respectively. A multilocus sequence identification in Q-bank Fungi revealed a 100% similarity with C. truncatum (1). The C. truncatum sequences from the peach isolate were submitted to GenBank (accessions KF906258 and KF906259). Pathogenicity of isolate Ct_RR13_1 was confirmed by inoculating five mature but still firm peach fruits with a conidial suspension of C. truncatum. Peaches were washed with soap and water, surface-disinfected for 2 min with 10% bleach, rinsed with sterile distilled water, and air dried. Dried fruit were stabbed at three equidistant points, each about 2 cm apart, to a depth of 9.5 mm using a sterile 26G3/8 beveled needle (Becton Dickinson & Co., Rutherford, NJ). For inoculation, a 30-μl droplet of conidia suspension prepared in distilled, sterile water (1 to 2 × 104 spores/ml) was placed on each wound; control fruit received sterile water without conidia. Fruit were incubated at 22°C for 2 days at 100% humidity and another 12 days at 70% humidity. Inoculated fruit developed anthracnose symptoms with sporulating areas as described above and the fungus was re-isolated. All control fruit remained healthy. C. truncatum has a wide host range, including legumes and solanaceous plants of the tropics, and is especially common in the Fabaceae family. Its occurrence in a commercial peach orchard is worrisome because control measures may need to be developed that are different from those developed for endemic species, i.e. C. acutatum and C. gloeoporioides, due to differences in disease cycle or fungicide sensitivity. To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. truncatum causing anthracnose on a member of the genus Prunus.

Overexpression of a defensin enhances resistance to a fruit-specific anthracnose fungus in pepper.

Functional characterization of a defensin, J1-1, was conducted to evaluate its biotechnological potentiality in transgenic pepper plants against the causal agent of anthracnose disease, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. To determine antifungal activity, J1-1 recombinant protein was generated and tested for the activity against C. gloeosporioides, resulting in 50% inhibition of fungal growth at a protein concentration of 0.1 mg·mL−1. To develop transgenic pepper plants resistant to anthracnose disease, J1-1 cDNA under the control of 35S promoter was introduced into pepper via Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation method. Southern and Northern blot analyses confirmed that a single copy of the transgene in selected transgenic plants was normally expressed and also stably transmitted to subsequent generations. The insertion of T-DNA was further analyzed in three independent homozygous lines using inverse PCR, and confirmed the integration of transgene in non-coding region of genomic DNA. Immunoblot results showed that the level of J1-1 proteins, which was not normally accumulated in unripe fruits, accumulated high in transgenic plants but appeared to differ among transgenic lines. Moreover, the expression of jasmonic acid-biosynthetic genes and pathogenesis-related genes were up-regulated in the transgenic lines, which is co-related with the resistance of J1-1 transgenic plants to anthracnose disease. Consequently, the constitutive expression of J1-1 in transgenic pepper plants provided strong resistance to the anthracnose fungus that was associated with highly reduced lesion formation and fungal colonization. These results implied the significance of the antifungal protein, J1-1, as a useful agronomic trait to control fungal disease.

ウリ類炭疽病菌の感染器官分化と病原性発現のダイナミックス

Colletotrichum orbiculare (syn. C. lagenarium) is the causal agent of anthracnose disease on cucurbit plants. This fungus forms dome-shaped, melanized appressoria as a host invasion structure. Strain 104-T (MAFF240422) of C. orbiculare, which was originally isolated from a cucumber plant in 1951 by Dr. Yasumori, Kyoto University, has proven to be an excellent experimental model for the study of fungal pathogenesis and morphogenesis because of its stable pathogenicity and synchronous infection-related morphogenesis. This review considers the discoveries made during 60 years of study on C. orbiculare. In particular, we focus on advances made in the last two decades, which have provided a basis for the molecular analysis not only of fungal morphogenesis, but also of plant–microbe interactions, including plant immunity to adapted and nonadapted Colletotrichum fungi. This substantial body of innovative research was originated by the Phytopathological Society of Japan and represents a major contribution to the international research communities working on plant pathology, plant–microbe interactions, and fungal molecular genetics. This review deals with the past achievements and future prospects in the study of Colletotrichum biology, focusing on the molecular genetics of C. orbiculare with regard to four aspects: (1) metabolic and functional development of infection structures, (2) signaling pathways required for fungal pathogenesis, (3) pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and host basal resistance, and (4) establishment of host specificity.

Dynamics of infection-related morphogenesis and pathogenesis in Colletotrichum orbiculare

Colletotrichum orbiculare (syn. C. lagenarium) is the causal agent of anthracnose disease on cucurbit plants. This fungus forms dome-shaped, melanized appressoria as a host invasion structure. Strain 104-T (MAFF240422) of C. orbiculare, which was originally isolated from a cucumber plant in 1951 by Dr. Yasumori, Kyoto University, has proven to be an excellent experimental model for the study of fungal pathogenesis and morphogenesis because of its stable pathogenicity and synchronous infection-related morphogenesis. This review considers the discoveries made during 60 years of study on C. orbiculare. In particular, we focus on advances made in the last two decades, which have provided a basis for the molecular analysis not only of fungal morphogenesis, but also of plant–microbe interactions, including plant immunity to adapted and nonadapted Colletotrichum fungi. This substantial body of innovative research was originated by the Phytopathological Society of Japan and represents a major contribution to the international research communities working on plant pathology, plant–microbe interactions, and fungal molecular genetics. This review deals with the past achievements and future prospects in the study of Colletotrichum biology, focusing on the molecular genetics of C. orbiculare with regard to four aspects: (1) metabolic and functional development of infection structures, (2) signaling pathways required for fungal pathogenesis, (3) pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and host basal resistance, and (4) establishment of host specificity.