<![CDATA[Anthracnose is one of the major postharvest diseases affecting avocado (Persea americana Mill.) and is commonly associated with fungi from the genus Colletotrichum. However, other fungal genera may also be associated with anthracnose-like symptoms in avocado fruits. This study aimed to identify fungal isolates associated with anthracnose symptoms on avocado fruits collected from West Sumatra using morphological and molecular approaches. Symptomatic fruits were incubated to induce lesion development, followed by fungal isolation and purification on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA). Morphological characterization included macroscopic and microscopic observations. Molecular identification was performed using LSU rDNA amplification, sequencing, BLAST analysis, and phylogenetic reconstruction. A single fungal isolate, DTTDL318, was successfully obtained from avocado fruit showing anthracnose symptoms. Morphologically, the isolate exhibited characteristics consistent with the genus Fusarium, including white cottony colonies with orange reverse pigmentation, septate hyphae, fusiform conidia with pointed ends, and thick-walled chlamydospores. LSU sequence analysis indicated that the isolate belongs to the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that isolate DTTDL318 clustered in the same clade with Fusarium cf. solani and Fusarium waltergamsii with a bootstrap value of 88%, indicating a close phylogenetic relationship with members of the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC). These findings indicate the presence of a Fusarium isolate associated with anthracnose-like lesions on avocado fruits.]]>
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