Conidial anastornosis fusion between Colletotrichum species

Colletotrichum lindemuthianum is a pathogen of the common bean plant (Phaseolus vulgaris) causing anthracnose. Large numbers of isolates can rapidly arise with different genetic and chromosomal compositions but their origin is unknown since sexual fruit bodies have only been found in the laboratory. We have recently described the occurrence of special kinds of hyphae that create anastomoses directly between conidia. In this work we show that conidial anastomoses can occur between two different Colletotrichum species. The implications of this observation on the generation of genetic diversity in these species are discussed.