Genetic and morphological diversity of mono-spore isolates of glomerella cingulata associated with coffee berry disease

In earlier experiments the perfect state,Glomerella cingulata, had been found associated withColletotrichum coffeanum. As the linkage betweenG. cingulata and the coffee berry disease (CBD) pathogen had still been doubtful, further investigations were done. It was found that mono-spore cultures derived fromG. cingulata perithecia from two different CBD isolates were not compatible. This would suggest genetic differences between these two CBD pathogens.Preliminary tests with mono-ascospore isolates of oneG. cingulata source resulted in a wide range of segregation types. It has not yet been possible to obtain a conidial form fromG. cingulata, which has the morphological and pathogenic characteristics ofC. coffeanum. The results of the experiments suggest, however, that a CBD pathogen may arise through genetic segregation from aG. cingulata state.