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ARS Home » Midwest Area » East Lansing, Michigan » Sugarbeet and Bean Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #379395
Research Project: Genetic Characterization for Sugar Beet Improvement

Location: Sugarbeet and Bean Research

Title: Michigan beet anthracnose not caused by Colletotrichum dematium

Author
item Hanson, Linda
item BYRNE, JAN - Michigan State University
item SCHLACHTER, EMMA - Michigan State University
item WILBUR, JAIME - Michigan State University

Submitted to: American Society of Sugarbeet Technologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/30/2021
Publication Date: 2/28/2021
Citation: Hanson, L.E., Byrne, J., Schlachter, E.M., Wilbur, J.F. 2021. Michigan beet anthracnose not caused by Colletotrichum dematium [abstract]. American Society of Sugarbeet Technologists. 58:94-95.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Since 2016, sugar beet samples with unusual symptoms have been received at the Michigan State University Plant and Pest Diagnostics and the sugar beet pathology labs. Seedling stunting, foliar discoloration, and lesions on the leaf petioles were observed. In 2020, similar symptoms were observed on Swiss chard in Ingham county, Michigan. A Colletotrichum species was isolated from symptomatic plants and used in two inoculation trials on sugar beet: a detached leaf assay and spray inoculation of adult beet plants in the greenhouse. Inoculations with the Colletotrichum species caused stunting and foliar discoloration. Colletotrichum dematium was reported to cause similar symptoms on sugar beet in Japan and table beet in Canada. The morphology of the fungi isolated from sugar beet in Michigan matched that for strains in the Colletotrichum dematium-group. However, genetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and '-actin gene confirmed that isolates belonged in the Colletotrichum curved spore species complex but was not sufficient to identify to any given species. Results did not support identification as C. dematium, giving closer sequence matches to C. spaethianum (99% similarity for ITS) and C. incanum (99% similarity for actin). To our knowledge, Colletotrichum species previously have not been reported on any Beta vulgaris (sugarbeet, table beet, or Swiss chard) in the United States. Samples with a Colletotrichum sp. have been collected from six different Michigan counties. Although defoliation and clear yield loss have not been observed, the cosmetic damage from spots on the leaves may be an issue for chard production.