Characterization of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides isolates for ornamentallupines in Connecticut

Twenty-six isolates of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides were isolated from di seased ornamental lupines (Lupinus spp. 'Russell Hybrids') in seven differe nt nurseries in Connecticut from 1996 to 1998. Three isolates from New Hamp shire, New York, and Utah were also included. All isolates identified were pathogenic on lupine and Vegetatively compatible with each other. Represent ative isolates were compared to lupine isolates from Quebec, Canada and Fra nce (COL-I group), and from Australia and France (COL-2 group), Both groups are responsible for causing anthracnose of ornamental and forage Lupinus s pp. in these countries. The Connecticut isolates were vegetatively compatib le with the isolates in the COL-2 group and had random amplified polymorphi c DNA profiles consistent with isolates in the COL-2 group. isolates in the COL-1 group were vegetatively compatible only with each other and had rand om amplified polymorphic DNA profiles that differed from the COL-2 group. I solates in both COL-I and COL-2 were sensitive to both benomyl and thiobend azole, but the COL-1 group could be distinguished as slightly more tolerant than the COL-2 group and the Connecticut isolates. These assays provided p ersuasive evidence that the isolates from Connecticut belong to COL-2 group . The introduction of this homogenous pathogen population in Connecticut is likely due to the importation of infested seeds.