title: Morphological and molecular characterization of Cladosporium cladosporioides species complex causing pecan tree leaf spot.
abstract: The objective of this study was to characterize species of the Cladosporium cladosporioides complex isolated from pecan trees (Carya illinoinensis) with symptoms of leaf spot, based on morphological and molecular approaches. Morphological attributes were assessed using monosporic cultures on potato dextrose agar medium, which were examined for mycelial growth, sporulation, color, and conidia and ramoconidia size. Molecular characterization comprised isolation of DNA and subsequent amplification of the translation elongation factor 1α (TEF-1α) region. Three species of the C. cladosporioides complex were identified: C. cladosporioides, Cladosporium pseudocladosporioides, and Cladosporium subuliforme. Sporulation was the most important characteristic differentiating species of this genus. However, morphological features must be considered together with molecular analysis, as certain characters are indistinguishable between species. TEF-1αcan be effectively used to identify and group isolates belonging to the C. cladosporioides complex. The present study provides an important example of a methodology to ascertain similarity between isolates of this complex causing leaf spot in pecan trees, which should facilitate future pathogenicity studies.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Defesa Fitossanitária, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brasil clairwalker@gmail.com.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Defesa Fitossanitária, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: M F B
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Muniz
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Defesa Fitossanitária, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rolim
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Defesa Fitossanitária, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: R R O
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Defesa Fitossanitária, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: V C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Defesa Fitossanitária, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Maciel
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Defesa Fitossanitária, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mezzomo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fitotecnia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: L R S
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Reiniger
mesh_terms: D031325:Carya / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000382:microbiology; D002963:Cladosporium / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D020648:Peptide Elongation Factor 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity
chemical_list: D020648:Peptide Elongation Factor 1