Anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum sublineolum Henn. ex Sacc. & Trotter, is one of the most important sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] diseases in Brazil. This fungus exhibits conidial dimorphism, producing either falcate or oval conidia on solid and liquid media, respectively. We compared patterns of the initial infection events by these two types of conidia on sorghum leaves using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The infection events during the first 24 h were similar for both oval and falcate conidia. Globose and melanized apressoria were formed at 24 h after inoculation (hai) regardless of the conidia type. Dense mycelium and oval conidia developed from germinated falcate conidia at 32 hai. Hyphal mass displaying acervuli filled with falcate conidia and surrounded by setae, developed from germinated oval conidia at 48 hai. Oval conidia were as capable as falcate conidia of infecting sorghum leaves. The inherent ability to grow faster and the easeness with which oval conidia can be produced in vitro as compared to falcate, make the former a preferred choice for studies on the C. sublineolum-sorghum interaction. It would be instructive to further investigate the potential role of the oval conidia in epidemics.

O fungo Colletotrichum sublineolum agente causal da antracnose em sorgo mostra dimorfismo conidial, produzindo conídios falcados ou ovais dependendo das condições de cultivo. Conídios falcados têm sido usados para obter heterocários entre mutantes complementares. Muitas linhagens de C. sublineolum não produzem conídios falcados ou produzem em quantidades insuficientes para analises. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a produção de conídios ovais em mutantes para o gene da nitrato redutase e verificar a possibilidade de sua utilização como ferramentas na transferência de material genético nesta espécie. Os mutantes usados neste estudo perderam a capacidade de produzir conídios falcados, porém todos produziram conídios ovais. O número de núcleos por conídio foi determinado. Conídios ovais foram eficientes na formação de heterocários e os heterocários quando cultivados em meio líquido também produziram conídios ovais em abundância. Recombinantes foram obtidos e as trocas genéticas foram confirmadas pelas análises de RAPD.

The aim of this study was to assess oval conidia production in mutants for the reductase nitrate gene in C. sublineolum and verify the possibility of using them as a tool to transfer the genetic material in this species. The mutants used in the present study lost the ability to form falcate conidia but all produced oval conidia. The number of nuclei by conidium was evaluated. Oval conidia were efficient in the heterokaryon formation and these heterokaryons in liquid culture medium they also produced oval conidia in abundance. Recombinants were obtained and the genetic exchanges were confirmed by the RAPD analyses.