PCR DIAGNOSTICS OF COLLETOTRICHUM COCCODES IN POTATO LEAVES

Colletotrichum coccodes is a plant pathogenic fungus affecting different organs of potato, tomato, and some other plants. The leaf infection with C. coccodes may result in a rapid development of infection nidus and high losses caused by the infection of potato tubers during harvesting. Our study showed the presence of C. coccodes on potato leaves with dry necrotic lesions. The presence of a DNA region specific for C. coccodes was detected in DNA isolated from five potato leaf samples: one from the Northern Ossetia, one from the Kostroma region, and three from the Mari El Republic.