Re-identification and characterization of pathogens causing ugurassa (Flacourtia inermis) fruit anthracnose.

Fruit anthracnose of ugurassa caused by Colletotrichum acutatum is hereby reported for the first time in Sri Lanka and it is proposed that C. acutatum is considered together with C. gloeosporioides, as a causal agent of this disease. C. acutatum was characterised by fusiform conidia and white to orange colonies with slight shades of light mouse grey aerial mycelia. C. gloeosporioides produced grey colonies with a dark mouse grey centre and conidia were cylindrical. The other differences between the ugurassa isolate of C. acutatum and C. gloeosporioides were slower growth at temperatures ranging from 15-30 degrees C and extremely high tolerance of two fungicides, carbendazim and thiophanate methyl.