Additional vegetative compatibility groups in Colletotrichum coccodes subpopulations from Europe and Israel

Potato black dot, caused by Colletotrichum coccodes, damages tuber quality and may reduce yield. In previous work, four multimember vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) have been reported. The objectives of the current study were to characterize a population of C. coccodes comprised of isolates from Israel and Northern Europe (EU/I) using VCG, and to assess the correlation between VCGs and aggressiveness of isolates on potato. A composite of 176 isolates was collected from symptomatic tissues of potato tubers or stems. A total of 6 (3.4%) isolates were characterized in VCG1; 29 (16.5%), 32 (18.2%), and 7 (4.0%) in VCG 2, 3, and 4, respectively; and 7 (4.0%), 9 (5.1%), 48 (27.3%), and 15 (8.5%) in the newly defined VCG 5, 6, 7, and 8, respectively. Twenty-three isolates (13%) were not assigned to any of the VCGs. Two of the VCGs had a specific geographical distribution: the 9 isolates assigned to VCG6 originated from The Netherlands, and 34 of 38 isolates assigned to VCG7 were from Scotland. Aggressiveness of isolates of a given VCG was examined on potato. VCGs 5 and 6 were comprised of the most aggressive isolates, and VCG1 of the least aggressive. These results could facilitate a more accurate evaluation of damage potential that may be caused by this pathogen.