Characterizing diversity in the sooty blotch and flyspeck fungal complex in southern Brazil

Reports of the sooty blotch fungal and flyspeck (SBFS) complex on apple have been limited to the north hemisphere. Fungi in the SBFS complex colonize the apple cuticle, creating blemishes and causing significant economic losses in humid, temperate regions. In 2007 three orchards in southern Brazil were surveyed. Colonies on apple fruit were counted and characterized by morphology. Isolates were made on acidified water agar and purified on potato dextrose agar. DNA was extracted from mycelia and the internal transcribed spacer region was amplified and sequenced for 32 isolates. Preliminary evidence suggests the SBFS complex in Brazil includes species within the genus Peltaster, Dissoconium, and Zygophiala. Members of these genera have also been reported to be members of the SBFS complex in North America, Northern Europe and China. Several previously undiscovered species were also isolated and sequenced. The ability of the isolates to reproduce colonies with the same morphology on apple fruit is underway. Morphological characterization of putative species is also being conducted. A worldwide picture of diversity in the SBFS complex is beginning to emerge.