Potential of Colletotrichum typhae H.C Greene mycoherbicide for bio-control of Southern cattail (Typha domingensis Pers.) plants

The anthropic interference in aquatic ecosystems favors the disordered colonization of T. domingensis, damaging the production of hydroelectric power and river traffic. Because of this, studies report the efficacy of fungal mycoherbicides, with control rates reaching as high as 90%. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of C. typhae as a mycoherbicide in bio control of T. domingensis, at in vitro and greenhouse conditions. 107 samples of symptomatic T. domingensis leaves were collected in flooded areas of rivers in Brazil, with identification and isolation of the collected fungal species. The concentration of inoculum was determined to evaluate the incidence and severity of the disease, the influence of temperature on mycelial growth and conidia germination, the effect of temperature and leaf wetness period on T. domingensis infection by C. typhae and the host range test in vitro. The growth of the colonies of C. typhae was higher at 25 to 30 ºC. There was no interference of the photoperiod on germination of the spores, but the highest percentage of germination was occurred at 20 ºC. The influence of environmental conditions on infection of inoculated leaves of T. dominguensis revealed that at 15 ºC and the period of leaf wetness of 48 hours the highest incidence of the disease was observed, as well as the severity for the same period of leaf wetness. The specificity test showed that C. typhae is specifically pathogenic to T. domingensis. This the first report of the occurrence of this pathogen in aquatic macrophytes of this species and in T. domingensis, a potential mycoherbicide for the control of this aquatic weed.