The objective of this work was to look at the variability between isolates of the three fungal species, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Fusarium solani and Phoma caricae-papayae associated with stem-end rot in papaya fruits (Carica papaya L.) which were produced in different regions of Brazil. In one trial, comparisons were made considering morphological and cultural characteristics exhibited by the fungi grown in different media: Potato dextrose agar (PDA), Papaya extract agar (PEA) and Czapek. In general, mycelial growth of all fungi was higher in PDA and PEA and no correlation was seen between growth rates and other morphocultural characteristics such as color, colony type and others for all isolates compared. The analysis of AFLP markers revealed that there is a huge genetic variation between isolates as demonstrated by the production of 339 bands in eletrophoretic gel. With basis on genetic diversity it was possible to characterize four groups of C. gloeosporioides, F.solani and P. caricae-papayae. No correlation was seen between morphocultural characteristics and AFLP analysis.
Colletotrichum gloeosporioides; Phoma caricae-papayae; Fusarium solani; AFLP; Carica papaya
