Variation in Pathogenicity, Virulence, and Aggressiveness ofColletotrichum graminicolaon Corn

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Abstract
Twelve isolates of Colletotrichum graminicola from corn [Zea mays] and two from sorghum [Sorghum bicolor] differed in pathogenicity, virulence, and aggressiveness following inoculation of stalks of three corn inbreds and two sorghum cultivars. Isolates were pathogenic only on the host species from which they were isolated. Of the 12 isolates from corn, one was not pathogenic. Variation in virulence ranged from virulence on all three crop inbreds to virulence on only the very susceptible inbred, C123. Aggressiveness, measured by the ability to cause premature death of the inbred C123, also varied among isolates. In general, isolates that caused the most discoloration of stalk pith were the most aggressive. Since inbred .times. isolate interactions were significant, results of studies on breeding for resistance and yield loss potential of anthracnose stalk rot could be greatly affected by the isolate used in the study.