Erythrina variegata is a new host species to Colletotrichum siamense in Brazil

Spots have been observed on petioles and along the midrib and vein of leaves from saplings and shrubs of Erythrina variegata in a Brazilian municipality in the state of Minas Gerais. An acervular fungus resembling Colletotrichum spp. was consistently observed associated with these spots. The aim of this study was to identify the fungus associated with E. variegata employing morphological characteristics combined with sequences of the nuclear genes encoding CAL, GAPDH, ITS and ACT. The aetiological agent was identified as Colletotrichum siamense, a species from the Colletotrichum gloeosporioides complex. Furthermore, this is the first report of C. siamense causing leaf spot on E. variegata in Brazil or elsewhere.