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Bananas are the most widely produced fruit in the world. Crown rot, one of the main postharvest diseases of banana fruit, causes significant losses during storage, transportation, and marketing. Different fungi, especially species of the genus Lasiodiplodia, are associated with this disease. Lasiodiplodia isolates were obtained from asymptomatic fruits in the states of Alagoas, Ceará and Pernambuco, Brazil. On Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), the isolates initially produced moderately dense grayish-white mycelium, then turned olive green to grayish-black, with olive-green or black reverses. The fungal isolate was classified as Lasiodiplodia hormozganensis and Lasiodiplodia laeliocattleyae based on morphological and multigene (TEF1-α , ITS and TUB2) phylogenetic analysis. Pathogenicity tests were performed by inoculating mycelial discs containing pathogen structures on banana fruits, confirming Koch's postulates. This is the first report of L. hormozganensis and L. laeliocattleyae causing crown rot disease in banana plants in the world. • 2023, crown rot disease of banana fruit occurring in three geographical areas in the northeast of Brazil. • Lasiodiplodia laelliocatleyae and L. hormozganensis were isolated, identified by morphological and molecular methods, and finished Koch's postulates. • The first report of L. laelliocatleyae and L. hormozganensis as causative agents of crown rot disease on banana fruits in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The jackfruit tree (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is a tropical species of significant importance, widely distributed in various geographical regions of Brazil, where its fruits, known as jackfruit, are consumed fresh. Between 2019 and 2023, in three distinct geographical regions of Brazil, a 100% incidence of black rot was observed in jackfruit fruits. Additionally, symptoms of dieback were identified in jackfruit trees in these regions. Faced with this issue, the present study aims to identify the etiological agents associated with these two symptoms, employing morphological characterization, nucleotide sequencing, and inoculations in fruits and seedlings. Through sequencing of the ITS, TEF , and TUB2 regions, the isolates were grouped with references of Lasiodiplodia theobromae and L. brasiliense. The inoculated fungi were reisolated, maintaining the same morphological characteristics. This study constitutes the first report of L. theobromae and L. brasiliense as causative agents of fruit rot and dieback in jackfruit in Brazil. • Black rot and dieback disease of jackfruit tree were very popular in three distinct geographical regions of Brazil. • Lasiodiplodia theobromae and L. brasiliense were isolated, identified by morphological and molecular methods, and finished Koch's postulates. • The first report of L. theobromae and L. brasiliense as causative agents of fruit rot and dieback in jackfruit in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aloe vera is a plant of significant medicinal importance commonly known as "Babosa". It is often cultivated in medicinal gardens and used to produce pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Between 2019 and 2022, Aloe vera plants at the Medicinal Plants Center of the Federal University of Piauí showed leaf spots and tip drying symptoms. This study aimed to determine the etiological agent responsible for the decline of Aloe vera plants. Four days post-inoculation, all symptomatic leaves exhibited necrosis, while control plants remained asymptomatic. Following initial isolations and confirmation of Koch's postulates, the causal agent was conclusively identified as Lasiodiplodia hormozganensis through a multilocus analysis involving the ITS, TEF , and TUB2 genes. It is the first known occurrence of L. hormozganensis causing leaf blight in Aloe vera in Brazil. • Disease in medicinal plants. • Lasiodiplodia complex. • Lasiodiplodia hormozganensis aggressive pathogen on Aloe vera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catharanthus roseus is an important plant group used for landscaping purposes and is cultivated in several locations in Brazil. However, anthracnose is compromising its development. Despite the importance of the disease, it is not known which Colletotrichum species is responsible for causing anthracnose. This study aimed to identify Colletotrichum isolates associated with anthracnose of vinca. It evaluated morphological markers and performed multilocus phylogenetic analysis. According to the morphological analyses and multilocus phylogeny analysis of ACT , GAPDH, ITS , and TUB gene regions, we identified the isolates as Colletotrichum truncatum. This study is the first to report C. truncatum in C. roseus worldwide. • Anthracnose in flowers. • Colletotrichum truncatum etiological agent of anthracnose in Cataranthus roseus. • Colletotrichum truncatum aggressive pathogen on Cataranthus roseus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]