Fungos causadores de doenças em orquídeas

Abstract

Commercialization of ornamental plants represents one of the most promising agribussiness activities. Orchids are among the species with the highest commercial value. Plant diseases, especially the ones caused by fungi are considered the main limiting factor for commercial orchid cultivation. Rapid and precise identification of pathogens is a fundamental step for any successful disease control program, thus, the objective of the present study was to isolate, evaluate the pathogenicity and identify fungal pathogens obtained from orchids. Simultaneously, the isolates obtained were preserved in order to constitute a collection of fungal pathogens. Samples were collected in Cruz das Almas, Chapada Diamantina and Camaçari, all in Bahia State. Disease incidence was higher in leafs, followed by roots and pseudo-bulbs. Sixty-four fungal isolates were obtained in association with 15 orchid genera. Among them, 38 were pathogenic and 24 isolates were identified at the genus level. Ten fungal genera were identified within 12 orchid genera. The most commonly isolated pathogens were Fusarium sp., Colletotrichum sp. and Alternaria sp.