Morphological diversity of Lasiodiplodia sp. isolates infecting woody and fruit crops in Côte d’Ivoire

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Yaya Kone¹ , Akissi Sandrine Yao¹ , Adjoa Marie Josephine Kouadia¹ , Massiata Dagnogo¹ , Léon Etien Hamian² , Eric-Olivier Tienebo¹ , Kouakou Théodore Kouadio¹ , Kouabenan Abo¹

¹Plant Biology and Health Research Unit, Joint Research and Innovation Unit in Agronomic Sciences and Transformation Processes (UMRI-SAPT), Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny (INP-HB), BP 1093 Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire

²Nutrition and Food Technology Laboratory, Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny (INP-HB), BP 1093 Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire

Corresponding Author Email: yaya.kone21@inphb.ci

DOI : https://doi.org/10.51470/JPB.2026.5.1.46

Abstract

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1.    INTRODUCTION

Fungal diseases pose a major threat to agricultural production in tropical regions, affecting both the quality and yield of woody and fruit crops [1]. In Côte d’Ivoire, crops such as cashew (Anacardium occidentale), mango (Mangifera indica), cacao (Theobroma cacao), and rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) are important sources of income for local producers. However, the productivity of these crops is frequently limited by fungal diseases, including those caused by Lasiodiplodia [6].

Lasiodiplodia spp. is a phytopathogenic fungus widely distributed in tropical and subtropical zones, responsible for fruit rot, twig dieback, and cankers on many woody trees [12]. This genus is distinguished by its high morphological and physiological diversity, influenced by the host species, growing environment, and agroecological conditions [8,11]. In Côte d’Ivoire, despite some studies on *Lasiodiplodia theobromae* in cocoa and mango plantations [3], knowledge of the morphological diversity, distribution, and pathogenic potential of isolates from different crops remains limited.

Morpho-cultural and microscopic characterization of isolates is an essential tool for understanding the variability of fungal populations and adapting integrated disease management strategies [4,15]. Indeed, the diversity of traits such as mycelial growth, pycnid production, and conidia density and morphology can reflect the genetic variability of isolates and their ability to adapt to environmental conditions [14].

Thus, this study aims to evaluate the distribution and morphological and cultural diversity of Lasiodiplodia sp. isolates collected from different woody and fruit crops in Côte d’Ivoire, in order to provide useful information for disease management and the improvement of agricultural productivity.

2.    MATERIALS AND METHODS

2.1. Prospecting and sample collection

Surveys were conducted during the production season in the main agro-ecological and agricultural production areas of Côte d’Ivoire. They covered several crops of economic interest, including cashew, mango, cocoa, cola, rubber, Accra Cone, and banana (Figure 1).

Plant material exhibiting characteristic symptoms, including dieback, cracking with exposure of internal tissues, gummy exudations, and rot were collected in the field. A total of 281 samples were collected from several locations distributed across different production regions, depending on the crops studied (Table 1). The collection covered 96 locations for cashew, 50 for cola (Cola nitida), 38 for cocoa (Theobroma cacao), 34 for mango (Mangifera indica), 29 for rubber (Hevea brasiliensis), 11 for Accra Cone (Polyalthia longifolia), and 11 for banana (Musa acuminata), distributed respectively across 7 to 15 regions depending on the crop.

Cocoa pods naturally affected by black rot were collected from different trees within each surveyed plot and individually packaged in labeled plastic bags (date, plot code, and sample number).

The banana samples, harvested at physiological maturity, from industrial plantations were obtained in Zambakro, Abengourou, Tiassalé, Dabou, Béoumi, Azaguié, and Agboville. A detailed breakdown of the samples by crop, location, and region is presented in Table 1.

The collected samples were kept in plastic bags and transported to the phytopathology laboratory of the INP-HB in Yamoussoukro.

2.2. Isolation and purification of fungi

The isolation and purification of fungi were carried out in the laboratory according to protocols adapted to the plant organs studied. For stem samples, the method described by [19] was applied with slight modifications. Symptomatic fragments of mango, rubber, cola, Accra Cone, and cashew stems (≈ 1 cm) were superficially disinfected in a 50% sodium hypochlorite solution for 1 min, then rinsed three times with sterile distilled water before being placed on PDA medium amended with citric acid.

The harvested bananas were washed, rinsed with sterile distilled water, and kept at 28°C. Ripening was homogenized by immersion in an ethylene solution (2 ml·L⁻¹) according to [9]. After lesions appeared, the fruits were disinfected with 70% alcohol, and fragments taken from the growth front were inoculated onto PDA medium.

For cocoa, subcortical tissue fragments were collected from necrotic lesions of pods affected by black rot, after disinfection with 96% alcohol and flaming, and then placed on PDA medium [5]. Petri dishes were incubated in the dark for 3 days at 28 ± 2 °C. Isolates were purified by subculturing at the mycelial growth front [5].

2.3. Laboratory identification

The final stage of the study consisted of identifying the pathogens associated with fruit dieback and rot. Isolates were characterized based on morphological criteria, including macroscopic observation of colonies (color, general appearance, and presence of pycnidia) and microscopic examination of conidia (morphology, color, and size). Species identification was performed by referring to the descriptions and taxonomic keys proposed by [16].

2.4. Morphological characterization of the isolates

In total, 161 isolates representative of the different sampling areas were selected for the evaluation of morpho-cultural parameters. The study was carried out on three culture media: PDA, MEA and agar, prepared according to the protocols described by [18] for PDA and agar media, and by [13] for the MEA medium [8].

For each isolate, a 4–5 mm diameter mycelial explant, taken from the growth front of a 5-day-old culture on PDA, was placed in the center of Petri dishes containing the different media. Each isolate was subcultured into five dishes (replicates) and incubated at 28 ± 2 °C under a 12 h/12 h light/dark cycle, as described by [16].

Morphological and cultural traits were assessed based on mycelial growth rate, as well as mycelium color and texture. Radial growth was measured daily by drawing two perpendicular axes on the back of each Petri dish and then calculating the average of the two diameters until the dish was fully filled [7]. The average growth of each isolate was determined from the five replicates. The diameter (in mm) of each isolate was measured in two perpendicular directions, and the average colony diameter was calculated using equation 1.

where D is the average diameter of the isolate in a box, d1 and d2 are the measurements of the two perpendicular diameters.

Growth was measured daily until full culture expansion using equation 2:

where CM is the daily mycelial growth rate, Ddn is the average diameter growth on the day of measurement. Dd0 = initial diameter of the mycelium disc, which is 5 mm [8]. The appearance of colonies and pigmentation, as well as vegetative and reproductive structures, were described after 10 days of incubation.

2.5. Microscopic characterization of isolates

Microscopic characterization was performed to assess conidia morphology, considering size, color, the presence of septa, and spore density. To estimate conidial concentration, the mycelium of each 27-day-old Lasiodiplodia sp. isolate was superficially scraped with a sterile spatula and then flooded with 10 ml of sterile distilled water to detach the conidia [5]. Spore concentration was determined by light microscopy (40×) from a drop of suspension placed on a Malassez cell, and photographs were taken with a digital camera connected to the microscope. Each measurement was repeated five times. The size (length and width) of 30 conidia per isolate was measured, and the number of cells per conidium was counted [2, 8].

The average number of conidia per millilitre was calculated according to the formula of [5] (Equation 3).

N: average number of conidia per square; ni: number of conidia in the square; 25: number of squares considered; and 10⁵: the factor that reduces the volume of one square (0.01 mm³) to one milliliter of solution. The morphological characteristics of the spores were compared to those described in the literature [14 ,8].

2.6. Statistical analyses

Data were analyzed using XLSTAT software version 2021. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to compare Lasiodiplodia sp. isolates based on their morpho-cultural and microscopic characteristics, at a significance level of 5%. The parameters studied included mycelial growth, conidial size, and conidial concentration. Differences between homogeneous groups were then determined using the Newman-Keuls test.

3. RESULTS

3.1. Morphological characteristics of isolates from cultures

3.1.1. Macroscopic observation

Observation of Lasiodiplodia sp. colonies 3 and 14 days after subculturing revealed three distinct morphotypes (Figure 3). On day three, the mycelium was whitish, sparse, or cottony on the front surface of the Petri dishes. This appearance gradually evolved to cover the entire dish. From day five onward, the initial coloration changed to grayish (morphotype A), brown (B), or blackish (C), with a cottony appearance and a downy texture.

3.1.2. Mycelial Growth

Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between the isolates (P < 0.05). The mean mycelial growth of the Lasiodiplodia sp. isolates, presented in Table 2, showed considerable variation depending on the original culture and the type of culture medium. The mean radial growth rate ranged from 1.45 to 6.04 cm/day. In general, the isolates showed slower growth on agar compared to PDA and CMA media, with PDA exhibiting the highest growth rate, followed by CMA, then agar.

Isolates from Hevea brasiliensis and Musa acuminata exhibited the fastest growth rates across all three media, while those from Anacardium occidentale showed high growth only on PDA. Isolates from Theobroma cacao displayed the weakest radial growth on all media. These results indicate that the mycelial growth of Lasiodiplodia sp. isolates is jointly influenced by host plant type and culture medium.

3.1.3. Appearance of the colonies

Analysis of colony appearance revealed significant variations depending on the culture medium and host plant (P < 0.05). Isolates from Mangifera indica exhibited the greatest morphological diversity on PDA (1.54), while those from Theobroma cacao showed the maximum diversity on CMA. Polyalthia longifolia isolates remained homogeneous on both PDA and CMA (1.00), as did those from Hevea brasiliensis and Musa acuminata, which were homogeneous on CMA and PDA, respectively. On agar, no significant differences were observed between isolates (P > 0.05), indicating uniformity in colony appearance on this medium (Table 2).

3.1.4. Number of pycnids

The mean number of pycnidia in the isolates varied significantly depending on the culture medium and host plant (P < 0.05) (Table 2). In general, agar produced the fewest pycnidia compared to PDA and CMA media. Polyalthia longifolia isolates produced the highest number of pycnidia across the three media. For Hevea brasiliensis, the mean number of pycnidia was highest on PDA (6.35) and CMA (3.27). Conversely, Musa acuminata and Cola nitida isolates showed the lowest numbers on PDA and CMA (0.66 and 0.00, respectively). On CMA, Musa acuminata isolates produced slightly more pycnidia than on PDA. No pycnids were observed on agar for the isolates of Musa acuminata, Theobroma cacao and Cola nitida.

3.2. Morphological characteristics of isolates according to agroecological zones

3.2.1. Mycelial Growth

Table 3 presents the average mycelial growth of Lasiodiplodia sp. isolates from different agroecological zones and cultured on three media. The average growth rate ranged from 2.13 to 9.92 cm/day, with values generally lower on agar than on PDA and CMA. Radial growth was dependent on both the agroecological zone and the culture medium. On PDA, isolates showed the highest growth rates, followed by CMA, then agar. Isolates from agroecological zone 3 exhibited the lowest growth rates on all media, while those from zone 5 showed the fastest growth on PDA and agar. Isolates from zone 4 showed maximum growth only on CMA.

3.2.2. Appearance of the colonies

The morphological diversity of the colonies varied with the culture medium and agroecological zone (Table 3). On PDA, isolates from zones II, III, and VI exhibited the highest diversity, while on CMA, the maximum diversity was observed for isolates from zone 1. On agar, no significant difference was detected between the isolates (P > 0.05), indicating morphological uniformity on this medium.

3.2.3. Number of pycnids

The mean number of pycnidia in the isolates varied according to the culture medium and the agroecological zone (Table 3). In general, the values were lower on agar than on PDA and CMA. Isolates from zone 4 had the highest number of pycnidia across all three media. Conversely, those from zones 1 and 3 produced the fewest pycnidia, respectively on PDA (0.58) and CMA (0.55). On PDA and CMA, isolates from Musa acuminata and Cola nitida showed the lowest numbers (0.66 and 0.00, respectively). No pycnidia were observed on agar for isolates from zones 1 and 3.

3.3. Microscopic characteristics according to cultures

3.3.1. Microscopic characteristics

Microscopic observation of Lasiodiplodia sp. isolates revealed inter-isolate variations in the conidia. Two main colors were observed: brownish and hyaline. Based on their shape, the conidia were classified as ovoid, oblong, or ellipsoid. Some conidia exhibited irregular longitudinal striations and rings at the septa. The conidia were generally unicellular or bicellular (Figure 4).

HAS– Ovoid, brownish, bicellular; B – Ovoid, brownish, unicellular; C – Ellipsoid, brownish, bicellular; D – Oblong, hyaline, unicellular; E – Oblong, brownish, bicellular; F – Ellipsoid, hyaline, unicellular; G – Ellipsoid, hyaline, bicellular

3.3.2. Spore density and conidia dimensions

The spore densities and conidia dimensions of the isolates are presented in Table 4. Statistical analysis showed significant differences between the isolates on PDA and CMA (P < 0.05), but none produced conidia on agar by day 28 of culture.

Spore density ranged from 7.04 to 50.00 conidia/ml on PDA and from 0.90 to 10.88 conidia/ml on CMA. Musa acuminata isolates exhibited the highest densities on PDA (50.00 conidia/ml) and CMA (10.88 conidia/ml), while Cola nitida (0.90 conidia/ml on PDA) and Anacardium occidentale (7.04 conidia/ml on CMA) isolates exhibited the lowest densities.

Regarding conidia dimensions, the average length ranged from 8.30 to 18.29 µm on PDA and from 4.81 to 16.37 µm on CMA, with the largest conidia observed in Hevea brasiliensis isolates and the smallest in Cola nitida and Anacardium occidentale isolates. The average conidia width followed the same trend, ranging from 5.18 to 10.53 µm on PDA and from 2.95 to 9.74 µm on CMA.

3.3.3. Diversity and proportion of spore color

The diversity and proportion of spore colors in Lasiodiplodia sp. isolates are presented in Table 5. Two main colors were observed: brown and hyaline. The mean conidia color ranged from 0.00 to 1.25, with significant differences between isolates on PDA and CMA. On PDA, the mean color ranged from 0.44 in Cola nitida to 1.25 in Hevea brasiliensis, while on CMA, it ranged from 0.22 in Anacardium occidentale to 1.27 in Hevea brasiliensis. Hevea brasiliensis isolates exhibited the highest mean color on both media, while Cola nitida and Anacardium occidentale isolates showed the lowest values.

Regarding spore proportions, Hevea brasiliensis and Mangifera indica isolates showed a high proportion of brown and hyaline conidia on PDA, with brown conidia being predominant. On CMA, Polyalthia longifolia and Mangifera indica isolates produced mainly hyaline conidia, while Hevea brasiliensis isolates showed the highest percentage of brown conidia. Finally, some isolates (Theobroma cacao, Polyalthia longifolia, Cola nitida) produced more hyaline conidia on CMA than on PDA. These results show that the type of medium significantly influences the staining and spore proportions of the isolates.

3.3.4. Diversity and proportion of spore shape

The diversity of conidia shapes, according to whether the tip was pointed or rounded, ranged from 0.34 to 1.88, generally higher on PDA than on CMA (Table 6). Isolates from Hevea brasiliensis exhibited the greatest diversity, while those from Cola nitida and Anacardium occidentale had the lowest values.

Ellipsoid conidia were predominant across all media, followed by ovoid and oblong conidia. Ovoid conidia were most common in Hevea brasiliensis (32.36% on PDA; 30.50% on CMA), while oblong conidia were frequent in Musa acuminata (8.67% on PDA) and Polyalthia longifolia (8.94% on CMA). The highest proportion of ellipsoid conidia was observed in Mangifera indica on PDA (54.70%) and Hevea brasiliensis on CMA (33.20%).

3.3.5. Diversity and proportion of spore type

Table 7 presents the number of cells in the conidia of Lasiodiplodia sp. isolates, which are either unicellular or bicellular. The diversity of spore types ranged from 0.22 to 1.18, with a general dominance of bicellular conidia over PDA and CMA.

The mean number of cells was highest in Hevea brasiliensis on CMA (1.08) and in Mangifera indica on PDA (1.11), while the lowest values were observed in Cola nitida on PDA (0.38) and Anacardium occidentale on CMA (0.22). The proportion of unicellular conidia was highest in Mangifera indica (22.39% on PDA; 13.04% on CMA) and lowest in Musa acuminata (0% on CMA) and Polyalthia longifolia (1.14% on PDA). Conversely, bicellular conidia predominated in Hevea brasiliensis, while their proportion was lowest in Theobroma cacao. Some isolates (Cola nitida, Polyalthia longifolia, Theobroma cacao) produced more unicellular conidia on CMA than on PDA, suggesting that culture medium influenced spore cell type.

3.3.6. Spore density and sizes

Table 8 presents the spore densities and mean conidia sizes of Lasiodiplodia sp. isolates according to agroecological zones and culture media. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between isolates on PDA and CMA (p < 0.05). No isolate produced conidia on agar by day 28.

Spore density ranged from 6.56 to 32.45 conidia/ml on PDA and from 0.56 to 8.33 conidia/ml on CMA. Isolates from zone 5 exhibited the highest density on PDA (32.45 conidia/ml), while those from zone I reached the maximum on CMA (8.33 conidia/ml). The lowest densities were observed in isolates from zones III (6.56 conidia/ml) and VI (0.56 conidia/ml) on PDA and CMA, respectively.

The mean conidia length ranged from 8.68 to 17.68 µm on PDA and from 4.17 to 11.22 µm on CMA, while the mean width ranged from 5.26 to 10.26 µm on PDA and from 2.58 to 6.50 µm on CMA. The largest dimensions were recorded in isolates from zones 5 and 2 on PDA and CMA, respectively, and the smallest in isolates from zone IV.

3.3.7. Diversity and proportion of spore color

Table 9 presents the diversity and proportions of conidia colors in Lasiodiplodia sp. isolates according to agroecological zones and culture media. Two main colors were observed: brown and hyaline, with a range of average coloration from 0.57 to 1.16.

Statistical analysis showed significant differences in PDA and CMA (p < 0.05). In PDA, the mean color ranged from 0.57 to 1.16, with isolates from zone V exhibiting the highest value and those from zone 3 the lowest. In CMA, values ​​ranged from 0.25 to 0.71, with a maximum for isolates from zone III and a minimum for those from zone V.

Regarding the proportion of conidia, the proportion of hyaline conidia was highest in isolates from zone VI on PDA (11.79%) and zone II on CMA (8%), while isolates from zone V produced no hyaline conidia on CMA. For brown conidia, the highest proportions were observed in isolates from zones 5 (70.10% on PDA) and 2 (39.72% on CMA), while isolates from zones IV and VI had the lowest values ​​(35.12% on PDA and 16.05% on CMA).

Within the same column, values ​​followed by the same letters are not statistically different at the 5% significance level according to the Newmann-Keuls test., CouC: Colour of conidia, PCHy: Proportion of hyaline conidia, PCBr: Proportion of brown conidia.

3.3.8. Diversity and proportion of spore shape

Table 10 presents the diversity and proportion of conidial shapes in Lasiodiplodia sp. isolates. Spore tips were pointed or rounded, allowing for the identification of three categories of isolates. Spore diversity ranged from 0.25 to 1.82, being higher on PDA than on CMA. The highest values were observed for isolates from zones V (1.82 on PDA) and 3 (1.10 on CMA), while isolates from zones II and VI exhibited the lowest values.

Regarding the proportion of shapes, ellipsoid conidia consistently predominated across all media and zones. Isolates from zone II exhibited the highest rates of ovoid (20.16% on PDA; 12.53% on CMA) and oblong (5.58% on PDA; 5.19% on CMA) conidia. The highest proportion of ellipsoid conidia was observed on PDA for zone V (54.32%) and on CMA for zone II (27.26%). Oblong conidia were the least frequent, with minimal values in isolates from zones VI and V, and almost absent in some areas on CMA.

These results confirm that, regardless of the agroecological zone or environment, ellipsoid conidia are predominant compared to ovoid and oblong conidia.

3.3.9. Diversity and proportion of spore type

Table 11 presents the diversity and proportion of cell types of conidia in Lasiodiplodia sp. isolates, which were either unicellular or bicellular. Diversity ranged from 0.20 to 1.17, being higher in PDA than in CMA, with a general predominance of bicellular conidia. The mean number of cells per conidium ranged from 0.52 to 1.17 in PDA and from 0.20 to 0.66 in CMA, with the highest values observed for isolates from zones V (PDA) and III (CMA).

The proportion of unicellular conidia was highest in isolates from zones I and II on PDA (14.03%) and CMA (14.00%), and lowest in isolates from zones V (0.00% on CMA) and IV (5.70% on PDA). Conversely, bicellular conidia were predominant, with highest proportions in isolates from zone V on PDA (66.17%) and zone II on CMA (40.34%), and the lowest in isolates from zones I (PDA) and VI (CMA).

4. Discussion

The results show that Lasiodiplodia sp. isolates exhibit morphological variations depending on the host, geographic origin, and culture medium. The nature and provenance of the explant influence mycelial growth, colony appearance, and the number of pycnidia, confirming the observations of [8], who showed that fungi develop and sporulate differently depending on the medium and the isolate’s origin. Media low in carbohydrates but rich in plant compounds can also modulate morphological characteristics [4].

Microscopic analysis revealed that the conidia are initially hyaline, unicellular, ellipsoid to oblong, thick-walled, and granular in content, becoming bicellular, dark brown, with sizes of 17–30 × 6–15 µm and longitudinal striations at maturity, in agreement with [5, 6]. The presence of pycnidial paraphyses and striations distinguishes Lasiodiplodia sp. from related genera [12]. However, some isolates produced unicellular or dark-brown conidia without pycnidia, suggesting the existence of different morphotypes influenced by the explant, environment, or isolate’s genetics. Spore density varies independently of the number of pycnidia, as reported by [4]. Unlike [5], only unicellular and bicellular conidia were observed here, although aging can produce 1 to 3 septa [17].

Variations in color, shape, and the number of cells per conidia reflect the influence of culture type, medium age, environmental conditions, and agroecological zone, as well as the genetic diversity of the isolates, corroborating the findings of [11]. Overall, morpho-cultural and microscopic parameters vary according to agroecological zones, crops, and environments, reflecting the adaptation of isolates to local conditions and the pathogen’s genetic diversity, in agreement with [15, 10]. In Côte d’Ivoire, environmental variations across agroecological zones [3] and cultural factors, such as pH, light, glucose, and temperature, influence the growth and sporulation of isolates [14].

5. Conclusion

This study revealed that Lasiodiplodia sp. isolates exhibit a great morpho-cultural and microscopic diversity, influenced by the host, the agroecological zone, and the type of culture medium. The observed variations concern mycelial growth, colony appearance, the number of pycnidia, as well as the density, color, shape, size, and number of conidial cells. Bicellular ellipsoid conidia predominate, although some remain unicellular or dark brown without pycnidia depending on the isolate and the culture conditions. These results highlight the adaptation of the isolates to local conditions and reflect the genetic diversity of the pathogen. Understanding these morphological and microscopic variations is essential for the accurate identification of Lasiodiplodia sp. and for the development of suitable management strategies in different crops and agroecological zones. Although characteristics vary according to host species and region, the specificity and pathogenicity of these isolates remain poorly understood. Further research is therefore needed to better understand the pathosystems associated with this fungus.

Conceptualization: methodology, experimental design, sample collection, data analysis, and original draft preparation.

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