Characterization of <i>Alternaria</i> and <i>Colletotrichum</i> Species Associated with Pomegranate (<i>Punica</i> <i>granatum</i> L.) in Maharashtra State of India
Nanjundappa Manjunatha | Jyotsana Sharma | Somnath S. Pokhare | Ruchi Agarrwal | Prakash G. Patil | Jaydip D. Sirsat | Mansi G. Chakranarayan | Aarti Bicchal | Anmol S. Ukale | Rajiv A. Marathe
Fungal pathogens are a major constraint affecting the quality of pomegranate production around the world. Among them, <i>Alternaria</i> and <i>Colletotrichum</i> species cause leaf spot, fruit spot or heart rot (black rot), and fruit rot (anthracnose) or calyx end rot, respectively. Accurate identification of disease-causing fungal species is essential for developing suitable management practices. Therefore, characterization of <i>Alternaria</i> and <i>Colletotrichum</i> isolates representing different geographical regions, predominantly Maharashtra—the Indian hub of pomegranate production and export—was carried out. Fungal isolates could not be identified based on morphological characteristics alone, hence were subjected to multi-gene phylogeny for their accurate identification. Based on a maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree, <i>Alternaria</i> isolates were identified as within the <i>A. alternata</i> species complex and as <i>A. burnsii</i>, while <i>Colletotrichum</i> isolates showed genetic closeness to various species within the <i>C. gloeosporioides</i> species complex. Thus, the current study reports for the first time that, in India, the fruit rots of pomegranate are caused by multiple species and not a single species of <i>Alternaria</i> and <i>Colletotrichum</i> alone. Since different species have different epidemiology and sensitivity toward the commercially available and routinely applied fungicides, the precise knowledge of the diverse species infecting pomegranate, as provided by the current study, is the first step towards devising better management strategies.
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