Colletotrichum Species Associated with Durian (Durio Zibethinus L.) in Hainan, China

Abstract

Durian (Durio zibethinus L.) is known as the king of tropical fruits and has been successfully grown in Hainan, China. Colletotrichum is one of the most important genera of plant pathogenic fungi especially in tropical and subtropical crops including durian. In this study, Colletotrichum species associated with durian in Hainan, China were studied using phylogenetic and morphological analyses. The results indicated that seven species from three species complexes were identified, including C. fructicola, C. siamense, C. queenslandicum and C. endophyticum from the gloeosporioides species complex; C. plurivorum and C. musicola from the orchidearum species complex; C. gigasporum from the gigasporum species complex. C. fructicola and C. siamense were the main Colletotrichum species associated with durian in Hainan, China. Pathogenicity tests showed that all seven species could infect durian leaves using a wound inoculation method although only C. fructicola, C. queenslandicum and C. endophyticum could infect using a non-wound inoculation method. This is the first report of these seven Colletotrichum species associated with durian.

Keywords: Colletotrichum species, durian, identification, phylogenetic, pathogenicity