Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is a species of fungus that belongs to the Ascomycota phylum. It is a pathogenic fungus that causes anthracnose disease in a wide range of host plants.

Taxonomy

The species was first described by Berlese in 1889. It belongs to the Colletotrichum genus, which comprises a large number of species that are pathogenic to plants. The species name gloeosporioides refers to its production of gloeospores, a type of asexual spore.

Description

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is a hyphomycete fungus. It produces conidia that are single-celled, hyaline, and cylindrical in shape. The conidia are produced in acervuli, which are cushion-like structures that form on the surface of the host plant.

Pathogenicity

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is a highly versatile pathogen that can infect a wide range of host plants, including many economically important crops such as mango, avocado, papaya, banana, and strawberry. The fungus causes anthracnose, a disease characterized by the formation of dark, sunken lesions on the fruit, leaves, and stems of the host plant.

Management

Management of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides involves a combination of cultural practices, chemical control, and biological control. Cultural practices include the removal and destruction of infected plant material, and the use of resistant cultivars. Chemical control involves the application of fungicides, while biological control involves the use of antagonistic organisms such as Trichoderma species.

See also

• List of Colletotrichum species
• Anthracnose
• Plant pathology