Specific and sensitive detection of the guava fruit anthracnose pathogen (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay

Anthracnose of guava, caused by the fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, is a major factor limiting worldwide guava production. Timely and accurate detection of the pathogen is important in developing a disease management strategy. Herein, a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the specific and sensitive detection of C. gloeosporioides was developed using primers targeting the beta-tubulin 2 (TUB2) gene. The optimal reaction conditions were 64 degrees C for 60 min. The specificity of the method was tested against C. gloeosporioides isolates, Colletotrichum spp. isolates, and isolates of other genera. Positive results were obtained only in the presence of C. gloeosporioides, whereas no cross-reaction was observed for other species. The detection limit of the LAMP assay was 10 fg of genomic DNA in a 25 mu L reaction. The LAMP assay successfully detected C. gloeosporioides in guava fruit collected in the field. The results indicate that the developed LAMP assay is a simple, cost-effective, rapid, highly sensitive, and specific tool for the diagnosis of guava anthracnose caused by C. gloeosporioides and could be useful for disease management.