African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6900

Short Communication

First report in Southern Brazil of Alternaria alternata causing Alternaria leaf spot in alfalfa (Medicago sativa)

Mariana Rockenbach de Avila*
  • Mariana Rockenbach de Avila*
  • Department of Forage Plants and Agrometeorology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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Miguel Dall Agnol
  • Miguel Dall Agnol
  • Department of Forage Plants and Agrometeorology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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Érika Sayuri Maneti Koshikumo
  • Érika Sayuri Maneti Koshikumo
  • Department of Plant Pathology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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Jose Antonio Martinelli
  • Jose Antonio Martinelli
  • Department of Plant Pathology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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Gerarda Beatriz Pinto da Silva
  • Gerarda Beatriz Pinto da Silva
  • Department of Plant Pathology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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Raquel Schneider-Canny
  • Raquel Schneider-Canny
  • Department of Forage Plants and Agrometeorology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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Jose Antonio R. Souza*
  • Jose Antonio R. Souza*
  • Instituto Federal Goiano ? Câmpus Urutaí, Urutaí ? GO, Brazil.
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Debora A. Moreira
  • Debora A. Moreira
  • Instituto Federal Goiano ? Câmpus Urutaí, Urutaí ? GO, Brazil.
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Naiara M. Conde
  • Naiara M. Conde
  • Instituto Federal Goiano ? Câmpus Urutaí, Urutaí ? GO, Brazil.
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Wanderbeth B. Carvalho
  • Wanderbeth B. Carvalho
  • Instituto Federal Goiano ? Câmpus Urutaí, Urutaí ? GO, Brazil.
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Aluizio A. Fernandes
  • Aluizio A. Fernandes
  • Instituto Federal Goiano ? Câmpus Urutaí, Urutaí ? GO, Brazil.
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  •  Received: 06 October 2014
  •  Accepted: 22 January 2015
  •  Published: 05 February 2015

Abstract

Alfafa plants with symptoms of Alternaria leaf spot from the Atlantic forest biome and Pampa biome, Brazil, were collected to identify the pathogen associated in this disease. The pathogen was isolated, analyzed morphologically according to literature and later molecularly identified. After that, pathogenicity tests were conducted in a greenhouse to confirm the Koch’s postulates. The first symptoms occurred after five days of inoculation. Initially the symptoms were dark formations becoming rounded blotches about 1 mm to 3 mm in diameter that appeared on both edges and in the center of the leaflets. From this data, we concluded that this is the first report of Alternaria alternata in Brazil.

 

Key words: Forage legumes, fungal disease, inoculation, pathogenicity.