Determinación del agente causal de la antracnosis en Annona cherimola (chirimoya) en el cantón Gualaceo provincia del Azuay

Abstract

Anthracnose is a fungal disease that causes serious losses in the cherimoya crop in Ecuador. The disease causes serious damage to the fruit and its control is mainly based on the use of chemical products. According to studies, Colletotrichum spp. has been reported as the causal agent of anthracnose in cherimoya, but the species has not been defined. In the present study, the morphological characterization and molecular identification of 10 strains of Colletotrichum spp. of cherimoya was carried out in different localities of the province of Azuay. For morphological characterization, the variables evaluated were: colony growth, colony coloration, colony type and conidial shape. For molecular identification, PCR analysis was performed with specific primers reported for C. gloeosporioides and C. acutatum, designed in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS). Based on the morphological characteristics and PCR analysis, it was determined that in Guachapala canton the pathogen responsible for anthracnose corresponds to a complex of C. gloeosporioides and C. acutatum, while in Gualaceo the species causing the disease is C. acutatum.