Glomerella cingulata
This pathogen is a significant problem worldwide, causing anthracnose and fruit rotting diseases on hundreds of economically important hosts.Because symptoms remain unseen before ripening, plants that appear healthy upon picking can become quickly riddled with disease in storage or transport.These acervuli will appear orange to pinkish in color, due to the masses of conidia being produced on the surface, and will have black, hair-like, setae spiking out in several directions.When cultured on potato dextrose media, this species can appear gray, orange, or pink in color, and will often exhibit concentric rings of growth radiating from the center.Phylogenetic analysis of C. gloeosporioides isolates sampled from across the broad host range shows enough genetic variation to suggest a need for more specific classification among this species.[citation needed] Once environmental conditions are met (<95% humidity, 25–28 °C), the ascospores are ejected and infected plant tissue sporulates.Once the host plant starts to senesce, the teleomorph form of the disease (G. cingulata) will sexually produce ascospores in perithecia to restart the cycle.Direct sunlight, extreme temperatures on either side of the optimum range, and low humidity can all cause spores to become inactive.Pruning and thinning out of vegetative material can provide extra airflow, preventing high moisture conditions necessary for disease propagation.In terms of chemical control, broad spectrum, protectant fungicides such as chlorothalinil or mancozeb can be applied at the beginning of the growth season to prevent infection.