Biology and pathogenicity of Prillieuxina winteriana in soursop orchards in Bahia State, Brazil

ABSTRACTUMO

Areas of soursop (Annona muricata) plantation in six municipalities in the state of Bahia, Brazil, presented the asexual morph of the fungus Prillieuxina winteriana, which causes leaf spots and premature leaf fall, constituting an important pathogen for this crop; infected leaves were collected for study and examination of specimens of this fungus deposited in URM Herbarium. Koch’s Postulates made it possible to confirm the pathogenicity of specimens collected in loco from P. winteriana to A. muricata, and tests were conducted both in a greenhouse and in the field, where the time elapsed from the infection of leaves to the formation of reproductive structures was approximately four months. Morphological and histopathological characterization was performed under optical and electronic microscopes. Histochemical tests showed accumulation of proteins, phenolic compounds and alkaloids in the tissues of infected leaves.

Keywords
Annona muricata ; Leprieurina winteriana ; life cycle; biotrophic fungus