Chitosan Sensitivity of Fungi Isolated from Mango (<i>Mangifera indica</i> L.) with Anthracnose

In Mexico, the mango crop is affected by anthracnose caused by <i>Colletotrichum</i> species. In the search for environmentally friendly fungicides, chitosan has shown antifungal activity. Therefore, fungal isolates were obtained from plant tissue with anthracnose symptoms from the state of Guerrero in Mexico and identified with the ITS and β-Tub₂ genetic markers. Isolates of the <i>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</i> complex were again identified with the markers ITS, Act, β-Tub₂, GADPH, CHS-1, CaM, and ApMat. Commercial chitosan (Aldrich, lot # STBF3282V) was characterized, and its antifungal activity was evaluated on the radial growth of the fungal isolates. The isolated anthracnose-causing species were <i>C. chrysophilum</i>, <i>C. fructicola</i>, <i>C. siamense</i>, and <i>C. musae</i>. Other fungi found were <i>Alternaria</i> sp., <i>Alternaria tenuissima</i>, <i>Fusarium</i> sp., <i>Pestalotiopsis</i> sp., <i>Curvularia lunata</i>, <i>Diaporthe pseudomangiferae</i>, and <i>Epicoccum nigrum</i>. Chitosan showed 78% deacetylation degree and a molecular weight of 32 kDa. Most of the <i>Colletotrichum</i> species and the other identified fungi were susceptible to 1 g L⁻¹ chitosan. However, two <i>C. fructicola</i> isolates were less susceptible to chitosan. Although chitosan has antifungal activity, the interactions between species of the <i>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</i> complex and their effect on chitosan susceptibility should be studied based on genomic changes with molecular evidence.