Species of
Colletotrichum are considered important plant pathogens, saprobes, and endophytes on a wide range of host plants. In Italy, several
Colletotrichum species have been reported in glasshouse environments. In this study, we have explored the occurrence, diversity, and pathogenicity of
Colletotrichum spp.
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Species of
Colletotrichum are considered important plant pathogens, saprobes, and endophytes on a wide range of host plants. In Italy, several
Colletotrichum species have been reported in glasshouse environments. In this study, we have explored the occurrence, diversity, and pathogenicity of
Colletotrichum spp. associated with aromatic and ornamental plants belonging to the Lamiaceae family. Surveys were carried out during the 2011–2018 period in Liguria and Piedmont, Italy. A total of 19
Colletotrichum isolates were collected from symptomatic leaves and seeds of
Ocimum basilicum (basil),
Origanum vulgare (oregano) and different
Salvia spp. A multi-locus phylogeny was established based on the basis of four genomic loci (ITS,
GAPDH,
ACT and
TUB2). The aggressiveness of selected, representative isolates were tested.
Colletotrichum isolates were identified as being members of three major species complexes:
C.
acutatum,
C. destructivum, and
C.
gloeosporioides.
Colletotrichum fioriniae,
C.
bryonicola, and
C.
fructicola were found in association with leaf lesions on
Salvia leucantha,
S.
nemorosa, and
S.
greggii, respectively.
Colletotrichum nigrum was isolated from twig lesions of
S.
greggii. Moreover,
C.
fioriniae and
C.
ocimi were found to be responsible for causing leaf anthracnose of oregano and basil, respectively. All the tested isolates were pathogenic and reproduced identical symptoms to those observed in commercial glasshouses. The present study improves our understanding of
Colletotrichum species associated with several hosts belonging to the Lamiaceae family, which are cultivated extensively throughout Italy for different purpose, and provides information that may be useful for an effective disease management program.
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