Phenotypic and molecular characterisation of the causal agent of mango anthracnose disease in Ghana

Abstract

A study was carried out to confirm the identity of the causal agent of anthracnose, a major fungal disease of mango in Ghana. Forty-five isolates of the pathogen were obtained from diseased mango plant parts, and were identified using morphological, physiological and molecular methods. The results showed that the pathogen produced short conical spores, which were rounded at the edges and showed a negative reaction in the casein hydrolysis test. The expected 480 bp product was amplified from the DNA of the isolates in polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using species specific primers. Phylogenetic studies of the rDNA-ITS region of isolates showed they were closely related to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides identified elsewhere. All isolates were able to induce the disease on artificially inoculated fruits. The results obtained in the study were consistent with the identification of C. gloeosporioides elsewhere, and confirmed the pathogen as the causal agent of the anthracnose disease of mango in Ghana.