Colletotrichum spp. and other fungi associated with anthracnose on Coffea arabica L. in Mérida State, Venezuela

Abstract

In tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, diseases can be major limiting factors to coffee (Coffea arabica) production, a highly valued crop internationally. Our aim was to identify Colletotrichum spp. and other fungal species associated with Coffee Berry Disease (CBD) and anthracnose on coffee twigs, which can greatly inhibit crop production. Concatenated phylogenetic analyses of ApMat and GS loci were used to identify two Colletotrichum species. Colletotrichum siamense was isolated from symptomatic mature and green berries that were both infested and uninfected with Coffee Berry Borer (CBB) and from twigs displaying anthracnose symptoms. Colletrotrichum alienum was isolated from twigs showing anthracnose symptoms. Along with these two Colletotrichum species, association of Fusarium incarnatum (= Fusarium semitectum) and Fusarium solani was found. Identification of Fusarium species was obtained through combined datasets of partial TEF1 and RPB2. Fusarium isolates came from ripe coffee fruits displaying symptoms of CBD, infested or not with CBB, and coffee twigs. In addition, concatenation of four gene regions (ITS, TEF1, CAL, TUB2) allowed the identification of another fungus, together with isolates from coffee twigs with anthracnose, Diaporthe pseudomangiferae. This is the first report of Colletotrichum siamense and Colletotrichum alienum, along with the fungi Fusarium solani and Diaporthe pseudomangiferae, associated with berry diseases on Coffea arabica in the state of Mérida, Venezuela.