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Colletotrichum perseae and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides sensu strictu Causing Stem Lesion and Dieback in Avocado in Italy
1
Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 100, 95123 Catania, CT, Italy
2
Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (DISAFA), University of Torino, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy
3
Interdepartmental Centre for Innovation in the Agro-Environmental Sector, AGROINNOVA, University of Torino, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Horticulturae 2026, 12(1), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12010111 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 3 December 2025
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Revised: 12 January 2026
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Accepted: 16 January 2026
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Published: 19 January 2026
Abstract
In the last decade, avocado production has increased in Italy due to the fruit’s high nutritional quality and economic value. During 2024, stem lesions, wood discoloration and dieback, often starting at the grafting point, were observed in young plants in a nursery in Sicily (Italy). Colletotrichum-like colonies were frequently isolated from symptomatic tissues. Multi-locus phylogenetic analysis (gapdh, chs-1, act, tub2, cal, gs and ApMat) was conducted on 11 representative isolates, identifying 6 as C. perseae and 5 as C. gloeosporioides sensu stricto (s.s.). Two representative isolates were selected for pathogenicity tests performed on 2-year-old avocado plants cultivated in a greenhouse. After two months, necrotic lesions, wood discoloration and reddish-brown streaking at the inoculation point were induced in both species. Additional inoculations of avocado fruit confirmed the ability of both species to cause fruit rot. All inoculated fungi were successfully re-isolated and identified, fulfilling Koch’s postulates. This is the first report of stem lesions and dieback caused by Colletotrichum species and the first occurrence of C. perseae in avocado plants in Europe. The results highlight the importance of early monitoring in nurseries during the propagation process and contribute to a better understanding of fungal diseases in avocado crops in Italy.
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MDPI and ACS Style
Vecchio, L.; Martino, I.; Guarnaccia, V.; Polizzi, G.; Aiello, D.
Colletotrichum perseae and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides sensu strictu Causing Stem Lesion and Dieback in Avocado in Italy. Horticulturae 2026, 12, 111.
https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12010111
AMA Style
Vecchio L, Martino I, Guarnaccia V, Polizzi G, Aiello D.
Colletotrichum perseae and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides sensu strictu Causing Stem Lesion and Dieback in Avocado in Italy. Horticulturae. 2026; 12(1):111.
https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12010111
Chicago/Turabian Style
Vecchio, Laura, Ilaria Martino, Vladimiro Guarnaccia, Giancarlo Polizzi, and Dalia Aiello.
2026. "Colletotrichum perseae and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides sensu strictu Causing Stem Lesion and Dieback in Avocado in Italy" Horticulturae 12, no. 1: 111.
https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12010111
APA Style
Vecchio, L., Martino, I., Guarnaccia, V., Polizzi, G., & Aiello, D.
(2026). Colletotrichum perseae and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides sensu strictu Causing Stem Lesion and Dieback in Avocado in Italy. Horticulturae, 12(1), 111.
https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12010111
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