Morphological, molecular and pathogenicity characteristics of Colletotrichum species associated with potato and onion in Isfahan province

Potato and onion are the most important commercial crops in Iran especially Isfahan province. Anthracnose caused by several species of Colletotrichum</em> spp. In order to identify and determine the possibility of cross contamination among pathogenic species of each host to another host, sampling was carried out from potato and onion fields in Faraydan, Daran, Damaneh, Chadegan and Ashgerd regions from Isfahan province. Morphological characteristics led to 170 isolates of Colletotrichum</em> that 120 isolates belonged to C. coccodes</em> from potato and 50 isolates belonged to C. circinans </em>from onion. 35 isolates of those 170 isolates were selected to amiliphy DNA using specific primers for the ITS-rDNA region and sequencing.Pathogenicity test was conducted in greenhouse conditions. The results indicated the pathogenicity of  C. circinans</em> on onion After 30 days, but  no symptoms were found on potato inoculated by thes isolates, while pathogenicity of  C. coccodes</em> was confirmed on potato after 60 days and no any symptoms was found on onion plants. The results might have used to control anthracnose in potato and onion fields