Chlamydospore formation by Corynespora cassiicola

The fungus Corynespora cassiicola is an important pathogen that causes necrotic lesions in several plant species. Saprophytism and parasitism habits of plants are common survival strategies for this pathogen. Few studies referred to the formation of chlamydospores by C. cassiicola. The objective of this study was to test the formation of chlamydospores by several C. cassiicola isolates from different agronomic crops and weeds. Fifteen isolates were analysed by in vivo and in vitro tests. Six isolates from four host plants (Cucumis sativus, Lantana camara, Malpighia glabra and Vernonia cinerea) were able to produce chlamydospores, both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, chlamydospore production was highest for the Malpighia glabra isolate and one Cucumis sativus isolate, intermediate for two other C. sativus isolates, and lowest for the Vernonia cinerea and Lantana camara isolates. However, no difference in the relative number of chlamydospores produced among isolates was observed in vivo.