Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims.) is a subtropical fruit recently cultivated in Misiones Province, Argentina. In spring 1997, a severe epidemic of anthracnose was observed. Disease incidence was ≈95%, causing high yield losses. Sunken, gray lesions on the whole surface of young fruits were observed. Under humid conditions, acervuli containing masses of spores and dark setae were found within lesions. On leaves, tendrils, and twigs, circular and irregular brown spots with darker edges were observed. Abortion of flowers also was recorded. Cultures on potato dextrose agar yielded abundant, gray aerial mycelium and one-celled, hyaline, oblong conidia with obtuse or rounded ends (11.2 to 15.0 × 3.8 to 4.6 μm). Perithecia were scarce (90.2 to 220.0 μm). Asci were not conspicuous, and ascospores measured 10.8 to 23.4 × 3.5 to 7.0 μm. Based on morphological characteristics, the fungus was identified as Glomerella cingulata (anamorph Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) (2). Fruits and leaves of P. edulis with and without wounds were sprayed with a conidial suspension (106/ml) and incubated in plastic bags for 48 h. Lesions similar to original symptoms were observed after 2 weeks only on wounded leaves and fruits. G. cingulata was reisolated, confirming Koch's postulates. This disease has been recorded in Brazil and Japan (1). This is the first report of G. cingulata on passion fruit in Argentina.
Reference: (1) E. Francisco Neto et al. Summa Phytopathol. 21:25, 1995. (2) J. A. von Arx. Phytopathol. Z. 29:413, 1957.
