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Mycelial growth, starch degradation ability and aggressiveness of Moniliophthora perniciosa isolates towards cacao

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Abstract

The variability of Moniliophthora perniciosa, the causal agent of witches’ broom disease of cacao (Theobroma cacao), was assessed based on measures of (i) mycelial growth rates (MGR), (ii) area of starch degradation (ASD) and (iii) aggressiveness towards susceptible and resistant clones. Ninety-six isolates were obtained from vegetative and flower cushion brooms from five resistant clones and one susceptible clone at two experimental sites at CEPEC, BA, Brazil. Seven isolates varying in the production of basidiospores, MGR and ASD were inoculated into six cacao clones being one susceptible, (SIC17) and five resistant (CCN10, Sca 6, TSH 1188, TSH 565, and TSH 516) to the disease. Disease incidence (SYMP) and severity (TNB, total number of brooms and DI, disease index) were assessed. Isolates obtained from TSH565, TSH516 and SIC17 VB were the most aggressive towards the cacao genotypes. MGR was not associated with aggressiveness, but ASD was significantly associated, at moderate levels, with disease incidence (r = 0.44; p = 0.018), TNB (r = 0.44; p = 0.018), and DI (r = 0.47; p = 0.012). Our results suggest that ASD is a promising biochemical marker to select for aggressiveness within M. perniciosa based on DI and TNB. On the other hand, MGR is a poor predictor of aggressiveness.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Fundo de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado da Bahia (FAPESB) and Brazilian Council of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq) for financially supporting this project. They are also indebted to CNPq for scholarships of Karina Peres Gramacho. Francisca Feitosa Jucá Santos was funded by grant # 1077/2010, FAPESB, and by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz/Programa de Pós graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, 45662-900, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil

    Francisca F. J. Santos & Karina P. Gramacho

  2. Comissão Executiva do Plano da Lavoura Cacaueira/Centro de Pesquisas do Cacau/, 45.600-970, Itabuna, BA, Brazil

    Francisca F. J. Santos, José L. Pires, Uilson V. Lopes, Louise A. S. de Brito, Lindolfo P. dos Santos Filho, Livia S. L. Lemos & Karina P. Gramacho

  3. Universidade Federal do Sul da Bahia/ Instituto de Humanidades, Artes e Ciências, 45988-058, Teixeira de Freitas, BA, Brazil

    Livia S. L. Lemos

Authors
  1. Francisca F. J. Santos
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  2. José L. Pires
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  3. Uilson V. Lopes
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  4. Louise A. S. de Brito
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  5. Lindolfo P. dos Santos Filho
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  6. Livia S. L. Lemos
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  7. Karina P. Gramacho
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Correspondence to Karina P. Gramacho.

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Section Editor: Jorge Teodoro de Souza

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Santos, F.F.J., Pires, J.L., Lopes, U.V. et al. Mycelial growth, starch degradation ability and aggressiveness of Moniliophthora perniciosa isolates towards cacao. Trop. plant pathol. 42, 21–27 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40858-016-0117-1

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