The growth habit of Colletotrichum gossypii and C. gossypii var. cephalosporioides on artificially inoculated cotton seeds and incubated at 20-22°C during 5 to 7 days, showed the following characteristics: (a) on roots: single or coalesced acervuli, conidial mass dirty white, orange or salmon (frequently), dark brown setae, often covered by the gelatinous matrix; conidia also produced from the aerial mycelium or from the apex of the setae, where some of them remain bound to each other, forming small heads; (b) seed surface: the setae arise directly from the seed coat, bearing conidia in the apex. These conidia are seen slicked together, forming clusters resembling chains, bright under stereomicroscope light. The fertile setae are also produced from the aerial mycelium that cover the seeds, generally 5 days after incubation. The acervuli with conidial matrix are rarely visible, except for the embrionary tissues, under the damaged seed coat or for dead seeds. The seeds with C. gossypii show generally a light pink shade due to the abundant sporulation that cover the setae. The mycelium over the seeds is scanty or absent and the short setae appear flat on the seeds, resulting in a compact growth. In contrast, on seeds with C. gossypii var. cephalosporioides, the setae are taller and less dense. The aerial mycelium with fertile setae is frequent, giving to the seed a grayish and loose, fluffy appearance. The presence of fertile setae also could be seen on foliar lesions of ramulosis. This fact suggest that under field conditions these structures have a function of authentic conidiophores, which play an important epidemiological role on long distance spore dissemination by the wind.
Colletotrichum; anthracnose; ramulosis; cotton seeds