Pathogenicity and aggressiveness of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides isolates in ornamental pepper

Anthracnose, a disease caused by fungi of the Colletotrichum genus, affects many crops, including ornamental plants. This study aimed at evaluating the pathogenicity and aggressiveness of the Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Penz. (Sacc.) isolates Cg1 (papaya), Cg2 (guava) and Cg3 (mango) in the ornamental pepper varieties Stromboli, Etna and Pirâmide, during two different periods (July/August and November/December 2013). The fungi pathogenicity and the severity of plant symptoms were assessed using a grading scale. The three C. gloeosporioides isolates were pathogenic to the three ornamental pepper varieties studied, exhibiting different levels of aggressiveness among them. The environmental conditions influenced the isolates aggressiveness, with the most severe symptoms observed in the second assessment period

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved