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Abstract
Anthracnose of crop plants caused by the fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (PENZ) is a common disease in the Caribbean. The fungus has caused considerable decline in crop output, notably productivity. Putative toxins were extracted from culture filtrates of the fungus isolated from diseased yam (Dioscorea alata L. cv. White Lisbon), coffee, and anthurium plants and tested on a number of plant genotypes. Partially characterized, putative toxins from yam isolates of the fungus induced typical anthracnose symptoms on yam, but not on citrus (Citrus spp. L.), mango (Mangifera indica L.), avocado (Persea americana Mill.), soursop (Anona muricata L.) and anthurium plants. Similarly putative toxins induced foliar symptoms only on the respective host plant from which isolates were obtained. Furthermore, the viability of yam cell suspensions was also affected by the putative toxin.