In: Sydowia 76, (2024): 231-242; ISSN 0082-0598, DOI 10.12905/0380.sydowia76-2024-0231, Published online on July 16, 2024

Two new endophytic species in the Colletotrichum boninense species complex isolated from leaves of Capsicum annuum in Brazil

Thays G. L. Oliveira, Rejane M. F. Silva, Jadson D. P. Bezerra*, Oliane M. C. Magalhães, Cristina Maria Souza-Motta & Gladstone A. Silva

Departamento de Micologia Prof. Chaves Batista, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
* e-mail: jadsonbezerra@ufg.br

Oliveira T.G.L., Silva R.M.F., Bezerra J.D.P., Magalhães O.M.C., Souza-Motta C.M. & Silva G.A. (2023) Two new endophytic species
in the Colletotrichum boninense species complex isolated from leaves of Capsicum annuum in Brazil. – Sydowia 76: 231–242.

Colletotrichum species, which are globally distributed, exhibit diverse ecological relationships with a variety of hosts. These
species are not only significant pathogens but also exist as saprobes and endophytes. In this study, endophytic isolates of Colletotrichum
were procured from Capsicum annuum (Solanaceae) leaves in a conventional cultivation agricultural area within the
Atlantic Forest region of Brazil. A multi-locus phylogenetic analysis, which utilised sequences of internal transcribed spacer
(ITS), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), chitin synthase 1 (CHS-1), and actin (ACT), in conjunction with
morphological features, identified two new species within the C. boninense species complex. These new species are phylogenetically
related and are positioned in a clade adjacent to C. brasiliense, a pathogenic species of Passiflora edulis found in Brazil and
China. Colletotrichum pernambucoense sp. nov. is primarily characterised by its formation of unbranched conidiophores, which
can be up to 26 µm long, and cylindrical to ampulliform conidiogenous cells that often extend to form new conidiogenous loci.
On the other hand, Colletotrichum capsicicola sp. nov. has setae with 2–3-septate, branched or unbranched conidiophores that
can be up to 49 µm long, and rarely lobate and irregularly shaped appressoria. Both species exhibit a prominent scar at the base
of the conidia.

Keywords: bell pepper, endophytism, Glomerellaceae, taxonomy. – 2 new species.