IDENTIFICATION OF Elsinoe ampelina ASSOCIATED WITH GRAPEVINE CAUSING ANTHRACNOSE DISEASE IN POTHWAR REGION OF PAKISTAN

Anthracnose is an important disease in vineyards located in the Pothwar region of Pakistan, which is the main grape-producing region in the country. This study aimed to identify the Elsinoe ampelina as causal agent of grapevine anthracnose through morphological characterization, phylogenetic analysis and pathogenicity test. Thirteen isolates were obtained from leaves with anthracnose symptoms collected in twenty vineyards in different location of Pothwar region, Pakistan. During morphological characterization colonies of all isolates showed Whitish grey color with peach edges and wrinkled texture on Potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium. Conidia were found cylindrical to oblong with rounded ends, hyaline, aseptate, 3.57 to 6.95 μm long and 2.03 to 3.40 μm wide. Molecular studies of four independent isolates using the ITS region indicated E. ampelina as the causal agent of anthracnose disease of grapes. Furthermore, the pathogenicity test revealed that anthracnose symptoms on leaves with the maximum number of lesions, when relative humidity was above 95%. However, with this being the first report, E. ampelina is found the potential inoculum source of anthracnose disease on grapes in the Pothwar region of Pakistan. This study will be helpful to adopt possible integrated disease management approaches to overcome the serious losses in susceptible varieties of grapes.