Response of different fodder legume species to Colletotrichum trifolii

Abstract

Colletotrichum trifolii, the causal agent of southern anthracnose, is a major fungal disease in red clover (Trifolium pratense) and lucerne (alfalfa, Medicago sativa), with varietal differences reported. However, results on the reactions of other fodder legumes grown in Central Europe are limited. In this study, a greenhouse test for resistance evaluated the response of T. repens, T. alexandrinum, T. incarnatum, T. resupinatum, Lotus corniculatus, M. lupulina, Onobrychis viciifolia, Vicia sativa, and V. villosa against C. trifolii compared with M. sativa. Conditions of the test were not suitable for T. alexandrinum and the two Vicia species; however, T. repens, T. resupinatum, and L. corniculatus proved highly resistant against the fungus. The other species showed mean plant survival rates of 61.5–84.7%.