Characterization of Species Associated with Heart Rot of Pomegranate Fruit.

This study was aimed at identifying species associated with heart rot disease of pomegranate fruit in southern Italy and characterizing their mycotoxigenic profile. A total of 42 isolates were characterized. They were obtained from pomegranate fruits with symptoms of heart rot sampled in Apulia and Sicily and grouped into six distinct morphotypes based on macro- and microscopic features. According to multigene phylogenetic analysis, including internal transcribed spacer (ITS), translation elongation factor 1-α (EF-1α), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and a SCAR marker (OPA10-2), 38 isolates of morphotypes 1 to 5 were identified as , while isolates of morphotype 6, all from Sicily, clustered within the species complex. In particular, isolates of morphotype 1, the most numerous, clustered with the ex-type isolate of , proving to belong to . . No difference in pathogenicity on pomegranate fruits was found between isolates of and and among isolates of different morphotypes. The toxigenic profile of isolates varied greatly: in vitro, all 42 isolates produced tenuazonic acid and most of them other mycotoxins, including alternariol, alternariol monomethyl ether, altenuene and tentoxin.