FIRST FINDING IN EUROPE OF COLLETOTRICHUM SCOVILLEI, A NEW AGENT OF PEPPER ANTHRACNOSE AND ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL BACTERIAL BIOCONTROL AGENTS

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is one of the most important vegetables grown in Kosovo. In September 2022, 40% of pepper fruits, in two commercial fields located in the municipalities of Peja and Rahovec (Kosovo), showed typical symptoms of anthracnose. Dark lesions developed on fruits, which later appeared sunken, necrotic and surrounded by brown haloes. After isolation onto PDA, colonies and single spores morphology of both isolates revealed to be consistent with the description of Colletotrichum sp. Amplification and phylotyping of ITS, GAPDH and TUB2 gene sequences of both isolates were performed and the fungus was identified as C. scovillei. To confirm Koch’s postulates, a conidial suspension from both isolates was inoculated into healthy pepper fruits and incubated in a humid chamber. Ten days after pathogen inoculation, typical anthracnose symptoms developed, from which the fungus was successfully reisolated. No symptom was ever observed on fruits inoculated with sterile water. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of anthracnose caused by C. scovillei in Europe. Given the economic importance of the crop and the significant quality and yield losses observed, measures are urgently needed aiming at pathogen eradication or, alternatively, to ensure an efficient disease control to avoid severe damage both in the field and in postharvest. Four bacterial isolates from the UNIMORE collection were tested in vitro against C. scovillei: preliminary data showed their effectiveness in reducing mycelium growth. Studies are ongoing to test such antagonists in planta to search for sustainable alternatives to the extensive use of fungicides.