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