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The fungal genus Alternaria is a relevant pathogen for several commodities including citrus and pomegranate fruits. On citrus, it mainly causes brown spots on fruits and leaves, whereas on pomegranate, it mostly causes a fruit heart rot. In the present study the presence of Alternaria rots on citrus and pomegranate fruits cultivated in Albania was assessed. Representative fruits were collected from different regions. Nineteen and thirteen Alternaria spp. isolates were obtained from pomegranate and citrus samples, respectively. The isolates were identified at species and morphotype level. Micro and macroscopic features separated isolates into four morphotypes. BLAST and phylogenetic analysis using the SCAR Marker OPA1-3 confirmed the isolate identity. All 32 isolates proved to be Alternaria alternata and belonged mainly to morphotype alternata, followed by limoniasperae and tenuissima. All Alternaria strains proved to possess the pksI gene of alternariol biosynthesis. Citrus isolates were tested for the presence of genes of the biosynthesis of the phytotoxins ACT and ACR, but none of them proved to possess them. Concluding, Alternaria spp. might represent a treat to pomegranate and citrus production in Albania, and thus effective control means are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In spring 2019, an anthracnose-like disease was observed on fruit in pomegranate orchards of cv. Wonderful in the Fier region of Albania. Disease prevalence in the assayed area ranged from 8 to 10%. Symptoms appeared as light to dark brown circular, sunken lesions with increasing diameter, which then merged. This study aimed to characterize the causal agent on the basis of morphology, molecular phylogeny, and pathogenicity. Micro- and macro-morphological features revealed that the disease-associated fungus belonged to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides species complex. A multi-locus molecular phylogeny using partial sequences of barcoding genes/regions (ITS, ACT, CHS-1, GAPDH, TUB2, CAL, GS, and ApMat) ascribed strain CG1 to C. gloeosporioides sensu stricto (s.s.). Pathogenicity tests, performed by inoculating healthy fruit, confirmed C. gloeosporioides s.s. as causal agent of anthracnose on pomegranate fruit in Albania. • Anthracnose symptoms were observed on pomegranate fruit in Albania. • A fungus resembling Colletotrichum gloeosporioides was consistently isolated. • A multi-locus sequencing confirmed it as Colletotrichum gloeosporioides sensu stricto (s.s.). • The strain fulfilled Koch's postulate. • We first report Colletotrichum gloeosporioides s.s. causing pomegranate anthracnose in Albania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]