Molecular Characterization and Pathogenicity of <i>Alternaria</i> spp. Associated with Black Rot of Sweet Cherries in Italy
Black rot is limiting the production of sweet cherries in Italy. Dark brown to black patches and sunken lesions on fruits are the most common symptoms of <i>Alternaria</i> black rot on sweet cherry fruits. We isolated 180 <i>Alternaria</i> spp. from symptomatic cherry fruits...
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Fungi |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/9/10/992 |
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| author | Muhammad Waqas Simona Prencipe Vladimiro Guarnaccia Davide Spadaro |
| author_facet | Muhammad Waqas Simona Prencipe Vladimiro Guarnaccia Davide Spadaro |
| author_sort | Muhammad Waqas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Black rot is limiting the production of sweet cherries in Italy. Dark brown to black patches and sunken lesions on fruits are the most common symptoms of <i>Alternaria</i> black rot on sweet cherry fruits. We isolated 180 <i>Alternaria</i> spp. from symptomatic cherry fruits ‘Kordia’, ‘Ferrovia’, and ‘Regina’ harvested in Northern Italy, over three years, from 2020 to 2022. The aim was to identify and characterize a selection of forty isolates of <i>Alternaria</i> spp. based on morphology, pathogenicity, and combined analysis of rpb2, Alt-a1, endoPG and OPA10-2. The colonies were dark greyish in the center with white margins. Ellipsoidal or ovoid shaped conidia ranging from 19.8 to 21.7 μm in length were observed under a microscope. Based on the concatenated session of four gene regions, thirty-three out of forty isolates were identified as <i>A. arborescens</i> species complex (AASC), and seven as <i>A. alternata</i>. Pathogenicity was evaluated on healthy ‘Regina’ sweet cherry fruits. All the tested strains were pathogenic on their host. This study represents the first characterization of <i>Alternaria</i> spp. associated with black rot of cherries in Italy and, to the best of our knowledge, it is also the first report of AASC as an agent of black rot of sweet cherries in Italy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:07:48Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2309-608X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:07:48Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
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| series | Journal of Fungi |
| spelling | doaj.art-4e9bd8973c1c4f56bc80eb59d469ee832023-11-19T17:00:43ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2023-10-0191099210.3390/jof9100992Molecular Characterization and Pathogenicity of <i>Alternaria</i> spp. Associated with Black Rot of Sweet Cherries in ItalyMuhammad Waqas0Simona Prencipe1Vladimiro Guarnaccia2Davide Spadaro3Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (DISAFA), University of Torino, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (DISAFA), University of Torino, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (DISAFA), University of Torino, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (DISAFA), University of Torino, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, ItalyBlack rot is limiting the production of sweet cherries in Italy. Dark brown to black patches and sunken lesions on fruits are the most common symptoms of <i>Alternaria</i> black rot on sweet cherry fruits. We isolated 180 <i>Alternaria</i> spp. from symptomatic cherry fruits ‘Kordia’, ‘Ferrovia’, and ‘Regina’ harvested in Northern Italy, over three years, from 2020 to 2022. The aim was to identify and characterize a selection of forty isolates of <i>Alternaria</i> spp. based on morphology, pathogenicity, and combined analysis of rpb2, Alt-a1, endoPG and OPA10-2. The colonies were dark greyish in the center with white margins. Ellipsoidal or ovoid shaped conidia ranging from 19.8 to 21.7 μm in length were observed under a microscope. Based on the concatenated session of four gene regions, thirty-three out of forty isolates were identified as <i>A. arborescens</i> species complex (AASC), and seven as <i>A. alternata</i>. Pathogenicity was evaluated on healthy ‘Regina’ sweet cherry fruits. All the tested strains were pathogenic on their host. This study represents the first characterization of <i>Alternaria</i> spp. associated with black rot of cherries in Italy and, to the best of our knowledge, it is also the first report of AASC as an agent of black rot of sweet cherries in Italy.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/9/10/992<i>Alternaria alternata</i><i>Alternaria arborescens</i> species complex<i>Prunus avium</i>phylogeny |
| spellingShingle | Muhammad Waqas Simona Prencipe Vladimiro Guarnaccia Davide Spadaro Molecular Characterization and Pathogenicity of <i>Alternaria</i> spp. Associated with Black Rot of Sweet Cherries in Italy Journal of Fungi <i>Alternaria alternata</i> <i>Alternaria arborescens</i> species complex <i>Prunus avium</i> phylogeny |
| title | Molecular Characterization and Pathogenicity of <i>Alternaria</i> spp. Associated with Black Rot of Sweet Cherries in Italy |
| title_full | Molecular Characterization and Pathogenicity of <i>Alternaria</i> spp. Associated with Black Rot of Sweet Cherries in Italy |
| title_fullStr | Molecular Characterization and Pathogenicity of <i>Alternaria</i> spp. Associated with Black Rot of Sweet Cherries in Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular Characterization and Pathogenicity of <i>Alternaria</i> spp. Associated with Black Rot of Sweet Cherries in Italy |
| title_short | Molecular Characterization and Pathogenicity of <i>Alternaria</i> spp. Associated with Black Rot of Sweet Cherries in Italy |
| title_sort | molecular characterization and pathogenicity of i alternaria i spp associated with black rot of sweet cherries in italy |
| topic | <i>Alternaria alternata</i> <i>Alternaria arborescens</i> species complex <i>Prunus avium</i> phylogeny |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/9/10/992 |
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