Search Results (31)

Persea americana (avocado) is a healthy fruit, rich in unsaturated fatty acids, various minerals, and vitamins. As avocado cultivation continues to expand globally, its development is increasingly constrained by concomitant diseases, among which fruit rot and anthracnose have emerged as significant threats to fruit quality. Menglian in Yunnan Province is the largest avocado production area in China. In November 2024, fruit rot was observed on avocado fruits in Yunnan, China, characterized by reddish-brown discoloration, premature ripening, softening, and pericarp decay, with a field infection rate of 22%. Concurrently, anthracnose was detected in avocado fruits, presenting as small dark brown spots that developed into irregular rust-colored lesions, followed by dry rot depressions, ultimately leading to soft rot, peeling, or hardened dry rot, with a field infection rate of 15%. Infected fruit samples were collected, and fungal strains were isolated, purified, and inoculated via spore suspension, followed by re-isolation. The strains were conclusively identified as Diaporthe phaseolorum (SWFU20, SWFU21) and Colletotrichum fructicola (SWFU12, SWFU13) through an integrated approach combining DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), sequencing, phylogenetic reconstruction, and morphological characterization. This is the first report of D. phaseolorum causing fruit rot and C. fructicola causing anthracnose on avocado in China. In future research, we will test methods for the control of D. phaseolorum and C. fructicola. The identification of these pathogens provides a foundation for future disease management research, supporting the sustainable development of the avocado industry. Full article

Culinary melon (Cucumis melo subsp. agrestis var. conomon) is widely cultivated throughout Thailand and represents an important agricultural crop. During 2023–2024, anthracnose, charcoal rot, and fruit rot caused by fungi were observed on postharvest culinary melon fruits in northern Thailand. This study aimed to isolate and identify fungal pathogens associated with these postharvest diseases in culinary melons, as well as to assess their pathogenicity. Eight fungal strains were isolated and identified through morphological characterization and multi-gene phylogenetic analysis. Colletotrichum chlorophyti and C. siamense were identified as the causal agents of anthracnose, Fusarium sulawesiense caused fruit rot, and Macrophomina phaseolina was responsible for charcoal rot. Pathogenicity tests were conducted, and the fungi were successfully re-isolated from the symptomatic lesions. Moreover, sensitivity tests for fungicides revealed that C. siamense was completely inhibited by copper oxychloride and copper hydroxide. Colletotrichum chlorophyti was inhibited by benalaxyl-M + mancozeb, copper hydroxide, and mancozeb. In the case of M. phaseolina, complete inhibition was observed with the use of benalaxyl-M + mancozeb, mancozeb, and propineb. Copper hydroxide successfully inhibited F. sulawesiense completely. To our knowledge, this study is the first to report C. siamense and C. chlorophyti as causes of anthracnose, F. sulawesiense as a cause of fruit rot, and M. phaseolina as a cause of charcoal rot in postharvest culinary melon fruits in Thailand. It also marks the first global report of C. siamense, M. phaseolina, and F. sulawesiense as causal agents of these respective diseases in culinary melon. Furthermore, the results of the fungicide sensitivity tests provide valuable information for developing effective management strategies to control these postharvest diseases in the future. Full article

Colletotrichum fructicola is a member of the gloeosporioides complex and can act as a pathogen, causing anthracnose in various plants and as an endophyte residing in healthy plants. As a plant pathogen, C. fructicola has been frequently reported to cause anthracnose in chili fruit and tea plants, bitter rot in apples and pears, crown rot in strawberries, and Glomerella leaf spot in apples, which are the most common diseases associated with this pathogen. Over the years, C. fructicola has been reported to infect a wide range of plants in tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions, including various types of fruit crops, ornamental and medicinal plants, tree nuts, peanuts, and weeds. Several reports have also been made regarding endophytic C. fructicola recovered from different plant parts. Endophytic C. fructicola has the ability to switch to a pathogenic state, which may contribute to the infection of host and other susceptible plants. Due to the economic importance of C. fructicola infections, the present review highlighted C. fructicola as a plant pathogen and endophyte, providing a summary of its infections in various plants and endophytic ability to inhabit plant tissues. Several control measures for managing C. fructicola infections have also been provided. Full article

Avocado, a fruit consumed worldwide and essential for countries like Mexico and Chile, faces significant postharvest challenges, particularly during prolonged storage and transportation periods, where Botryosphaeriaceae and Glomerellaceae genera cause fruit rots that can generate substantial economic losses. This study investigated three Hass avocado orchards in the Valparaíso region of Chile to identify spore dispersion peaks, analyze the aerial dynamics of fungal inoculum, and evaluate the association with climatic conditions, as well as the incidence (I) and damage index (DI) of fruit rots. Spore traps were installed in symptomatic trees and monitored weekly over 13 months. Meteorological data were collected in parallel. Fruits from these orchards were sampled to evaluate postharvest rots, physiological maturity, and disease severity using molecular techniques, including DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of isolated pathogens. The results revealed that spore peaks for both fungal families were closely associated with increased rainfall and high relative humidity, particularly from June to mid-September (winter season). The Santo Domingo orchard exhibited the highest disease pressure, with stem-end rot reaching an I of 44% and a DI of 17.25%, and anthracnose reaching an I of 23% and a DI of 12.25%. This study provides the first long-term, field-based evidence of airborne spore dynamics of Botryosphaeriaceae and Glomerellaceae in Chilean avocado orchards and their statistical relationship with environmental variables. These findings highlight the potential of incorporating climatic indicators—such as rainfall thresholds and humidity levels—into monitoring and early-warning systems to optimize fungicide application timing, reduce unnecessary chemical use, and improve postharvest disease management in avocado production. Full article

The endophytic strain Amfr20 was isolated from roots of the olive tree var. Amfissa. Based on core-genome phylogenomic analyses, it was classified as Bacillus velezensis. The isolate showed positive results in numerous plant growth promoting traits, as well as in abiotic stress tolerance and in colonization related traits in vitro. Furthermore, the strain exhibited antifungal activity in vitro through diffusible and volatile compounds. Whole genome analysis revealed that the strain possesses large and various arsenals of secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters involved in the bioagent’s functional properties, including plant growth promotion, colonization, and plant defense elicitation, as well as having the genomic potential for abiotic stress mediation. Based on TLC-bioautography, the ethyl acetate extracts of secreted agar-diffusible compounds from Amfr20 through single and dual cultures were found to be bioactive independently of the fungal pathogen’s interaction. The bacterial endophyte also proved efficient in suppressing the severity of anthracnose olive rot and gray mold post-harvest diseases on olive fruits and table grape berries, respectively. Lastly, Amfr20 beneficially affected Arabidopsis thaliana growth under normal and saline conditions, while boosting the plant development of Solanum lycopersicum through seed biopriming and root irrigation methods. The results of this multilevel study indicate that the novel endophyte Amfr20 Bacillus velezensis is a promising bioagent that should be exploited in the future as an ecological biopesticide and/or biostimulant. Full article

The coffee berry borer (CBB) is the most destructive pest of coffee worldwide, with damages exceeding $500 M a year and affecting the livelihood of 25 million farmers. Coffee fruit rot (CFR) is described as an anthracnose disease; it can cause up to 80% loss of the crop on susceptible cultivars when conditions favor it. These two serious threats to coffee production have been studied separately, but a link between them was not shown until recently. Several recent studies show that CBB damage is associated with a higher incidence of fruit rot; CBBs carry Colletotrichum and Fusarium fungi, also found in rotted fruits, and can transmit disease to coffee fruits as they bore into them. Previous studies on the relationship between CBB and Fusarium did not take into account that Fusarium is involved in coffee fruit rot, so these recent findings shed new light on the relationship. Here we discuss this relationship and its implications, both ecological and practical. Full article

Anthracnose is a widespread plant disease affecting vegetables, flowers, crops, and fruit trees, causing significant economic losses. It occurs at various stages of pepper growth, leading to rotting and shedding in later stages. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship with anthracnose occurrence by analyzing the physicochemical properties and microbiota changes in the inter-root soil of pepper under different susceptibility levels to reveal the key microecological factors and dominant microbial populations and to provide reference for ecological control. Illumina Miseq sequencing was first used to evaluate the physicochemical properties and microbial taxa in pepper inter-root soil across different health statuses and identify key parameters associated with anthracnose. Subsequently, PICRUSt2 (systematic genetic Investigation of communities by Reconstruction of observed States 2) and FUNGuild (Fungi Functional Guild) V1.0 online platform were used to predict the activities of inter-root bacteria and fungi. The findings indicated that healthy peppers had significantly higher inter-root soil nutrient levels and enzyme activity compared to sensitive peppers. There were significant differences between their community structures. In alpha-diversity analysis, inter-root soil microbial richness and diversity were significantly higher in healthy peppers than in susceptible peppers. At the bacterial taxonomic level, the comparative prevalence of Acidobacteria in highly resistant plants, resistant plants, and susceptible plants decreased sequentially. At the genus level, the relative abundance of Vicinamibacteraceae and RB41 was markedly elevated in disease-resistant inter-root soils than in disease-susceptible soils. At the fungal level, the comparative prevalence of Ascomycetes in highly resistant plants, resistant plants, and susceptible plants increased sequentially. Differences in function are mainly manifested in apoptosis and mycelial development. Full article

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is an important agricultural crop of the Malvaceae family, cultivated across tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions. However, okra production faces numerous challenges from diverse pest species, including insects, nematodes, arachnids, and mites, that significantly reduce its yield. Major economic pests include the cotton aphid, cotton spotted bollworm, Egyptian bollworm, cotton mealybug, whitefly, cotton leafhopper, cotton bollworm, two-spotted spider mite, root-knot nematode, reniform nematode, cotton leaf roller, and flea beetle. Additionally, less prevalent pests such as the blister beetle, okra stem fly, red cotton bug, cotton seed bug, cotton looper, onion thrips, green plant bug, and lesion nematode are also described. This review also addresses fungal and oomycete diseases that present high risks to okra production, including damping-off, powdery mildew, Cercospora leaf spot, gray mold, Alternaria leaf spot and pod rot, Phyllosticta leaf spot, Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt, collar rot, stem canker, anthracnose, and fruit rot. In addition to these fungal diseases, okra is also severely affected by several viral diseases, with the most important being okra yellow vein mosaic disease, okra enation leaf curl disease, and okra mosaic disease, which can cause significant yield losses. Moreover, okra may also suffer from bacterial diseases, with bacterial leaf spot and blight, caused primarily by Pseudomonas syringae, being the most significant. This manuscript synthesizes the current knowledge on these pests. It outlines various management techniques and strategies to expand the knowledge base of farmers and researchers, highlighting the key role of integrated pest management (IPM). Full article

Endophytic fungi can be used as a source of herbal antioxidants to overcome the limitations of low yield and lengthy growth cycles associated with using plants as raw materials for antioxidant production. Papaya fruit is often susceptible to infection by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides after harvest, leading to postharvest rot. Endophytic fungi were extracted with ethyl acetate, and the initial screening concentration was 100 mg/L. Seven strains were identified, with scavenging rates exceeding 50% and strong antioxidant activity. The IC50 values in DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging assays ranged from 19.72 to 84.06 mg/L and from 14.34 to 64.63 mg/L, respectively. Strain Y17 exhibited robust antioxidant activity (IC50 < 20 mg/L) and was identified as Penicillium rolfsii (MT729953) through ITS sequencing. Treatment of papaya fruit wounds with a fermentation broth of strain Y17 significantly inhibited the infection and colonization of anthracnose pathogens, resulting in a slowed disease incidence rate. This promoted the activity of protective enzymes, such as CAT, POD, and SOD, in the papaya fruit and slowed down the rate of MDA accumulation. This strain, which was found to have antioxidant activity in this study, has the potential to control anthracnose in papaya and has value in terms of further development and utilization. Full article

In strawberry cultivation, precise disease management is crucial for maximizing yields and reducing unnecessary fungicide use. Traditional methods for measuring leaf wetness duration (LWD), a critical factor in assessing the risk of fungal diseases such as botrytis fruit rot and anthracnose, have been reliant on sensors with known limitations in accuracy and reliability and difficulties with calibrating. To overcome these limitations, this study introduced an innovative algorithm for leaf wetness detection systems employing high-resolution imaging and deep learning technologies, including convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Implemented at the University of Florida’s Plant Science Research and Education Unit (PSREU) in Citra, FL, USA, and expanded to three additional locations across Florida, USA, the system captured and analyzed images of a reference plate to accurately determine the wetness and, consequently, the LWD. The comparison of system outputs with manual observations across diverse environmental conditions demonstrated the enhanced accuracy and reliability of the artificial intelligence-driven approach. By integrating this system into the Strawberry Advisory System (SAS), this study provided an efficient solution to improve disease risk assessment and fungicide application strategies, promising significant economic benefits and sustainability advances in strawberry production. Full article

Anthracnose diseases, caused by Colletotrichum spp., are considered to be among the most destructive diseases that have a significant impact on the global production of strawberries. These diseases alone can cause up to 70% yield loss in North America. Colletotrichum spp. causes several disease symptoms on strawberry plants, including root, fruit, and crown rot, lesions on petioles and runners, and irregular black spots on the leaf. In many cases, a lower level of infection on foliage remains non-symptomatic (quiescent), posing a challenge to growers as these plants can be a significant source of inoculum for the fruiting field. Reliable detection methods for quiescent infection should play an important role in preventing infected plants’ entry into the production system or guiding growers to take appropriate preventative measures to control the disease. This review aims to examine both conventional and emerging approaches for detecting anthracnose disease in the early stages of the disease cycle, with a focus on newly emerging techniques such as remote sensing, especially using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) equipped with multispectral sensors. Further, we focused on the acutatum species complex, including the latest taxonomy, the complex life cycle, and the epidemiology of the disease. Additionally, we highlighted the extensive spectrum of management techniques against anthracnose diseases on strawberries and their challenges, with a special focus on new emerging sustainable management techniques that can be utilized in organic strawberry systems. Full article

Pomegranate, a pivotal fruit that is well recognized globally and a rapidly emerging crop in the southeastern United States and other subtropical regions, faces a formidable challenge from Colletotrichum spp., a fungal pathogen causing anthracnose fruit rot, which leads to severe to complete premature fruit drop. The development and use of disease-resistant cultivars are considered the most cost-effective and sustainable approach to managing this disease. Identifying sources of resistance is essential for developing new cultivars with improved resistance to this disease. This project aimed to expand the scope of evaluation through a 2-year field study in central Florida, examining fruit from 35 cultivars from diverse origins using both artificial inoculation at the petal dehiscent stage and natural infection. Lesion size on the fruit was measured during the growing season in a field setting. Subsequently, seven cultivars were selected for further testing by inoculating detached mature fruit and measuring lesion size to confirm observed resistance and determine the correlation between resistance observed in planta in the field and on detached fruit in the laboratory. The field study revealed significant genetic differences among pomegranate cultivars in susceptibility to naturally occurring and induced anthracnose fruit rot and classified cultivars into five resistance or susceptibility classes. Five cultivars that originated from different regions of the world, including ‘Azadi’, showed consistent resistance to anthracnose fruit rot in the field. Resistance remained strong on detached mature fruit. A strong positive correlation existed between resistance levels on in-planta fruit and on detached mature fruit, suggesting a possible simple, efficient approach to screening breeding populations for anthracnose fruit rot resistance in pomegranate. These findings represent an important step toward developing new anthracnose-resistant cultivars and understanding and improving disease resistance in this increasingly important fruit crop in the world. Full article

Anthracnose, which is caused by the fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) Penz. and Sacc. (C. gloeosporioides), is the main disease that affects soursop fruits and causes accelerated deterioration due to the rotting process. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of chitosan-based coatings with essential oils on the physiological, antifungal, and shelf-life properties of soursop. Chitosan-based coatings were combined with essential oils of cinnamon and thyme and applied to soursop. The parameters evaluated were respiration and ethylene by gas chromatography, shelf life, weight loss, total soluble solids, color, maturity index, and titratable acidity. The chitosan obtained had a molecular weight of 169 kDa and an 83% degree of deacetylation; respiration and ethylene values showed significant reductions of 47 and 50% with coatings. Weight loss was reduced by up to 50%, even on inoculated fruits, and shelf life increased by two days. Chitosan-based coatings with essential oils are an appropriate alternative to improve the quality of soursop and decrease the effect of C. gloeosporioides. Full article

Pepper (Capsicum spp.) is an important vegetable crop worldwide with high economic and nutritional value. The Capsicum genus comprises more than 30 species, of which C. annuum, C. chinense, C. baccatum, C. frutescens, and C. pubescens are the five domesticated ones. Anthracnose fruit rot, caused by Colletotrichum spp., is one of the most destructive fungal diseases of pepper. In this review, we compiled up-to-date information from 40 publications on anthracnose resistance in Capsicum species. In total, 375 accessions were described as showing different levels of resistance against Colletotrichum spp. These accessions belonged to different species, including C. annuum (160), C. baccatum (86), C. chacoense (4), C. chinense (90), and C. frutescens (16), as well as 19 accessions of which the species were not reported. High levels of resistance were mainly present in C. baccatum and C. chinense. For some of the resistant accessions, resistance genes or quantitative trait loci (QTL) were reported. Using associated molecular markers, we located 31 QTLs and 17 resistance-related genes in the recently published Capsicum genomes, including C. annuum CM334 version 1.6, C. chinense version 1.2, and C. baccatum version 1.2. Our results could be helpful for making use of some reported accessions in the breeding of pepper cultivars with resistance to anthracnose rot disease. Full article

Mexico is among the most important citrus fruit producers in the world. However, during storage, several problems related to fungi can arise. The most common fungal postharvest diseases detected on Citrus limon var Eureka (Italian lime) produced in the Tamaulipas state are green/blue mold (Penicillium spp.), fusarium rot (F. oxysporum, F. solani, F. proliferatum, among others), and anthracnose (Colletotrichum spp.). In this work, we selected yeasts, occurring as the natural epiphytic mycoflora of lemons or from fermented traditional products, to be tested as part of a formulation for protecting stored lemons against fungal diseases. The best-performing yeasts, labeled as LCBG-03 (Meyerozyma guilliermondii), LCBG-30 (Pseudozyma sp.), and LCBG-49 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), were selected to test their compatibility and biocontrol performance against strains of Penicillium digitatum (AL-38), Fusarium sp. (AL-21), Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (AL-13), and Epicoccum sorghinum (H3A). Based on their in vitro performance regarding the percentage of radial growth inhibition, both applied individually or as two yeasts mixed at equal cellular concentrations, the best combinations (containing M. guilliermondii formulated with either Pseudozyma sp. or S. cerevisiae) were selected with efficacies higher than 95% in both in vitro fungal radial growth rate inhibition and on stored lemon fruits. This work contributes to the search for compatible yeast combinations with the aim to diminish the fungal losses of citrus fruits using biocontrol for citrus postharvest protection. Full article