Hosts of Colletotrichum

The taxonomy of Colletotrichum has undergone profound changes over the past decade, with ca. 340 species now recognised, and grouped into 20 species complexes (16 previously described and four proposed in this work). Over that period, the volatility of the taxonomic framework posed difficulties to the aetiology of anthracnose diseases along with uncertainty on cross-infection potential, quarantine rules, pesticide management and plant breeding strategies. Now that the Colletotrichum taxonomy is stabilising (still several new species being named, but no longer representing major pathogens), there is a point on reviewing the knowledge on the aetiology of anthracnose diseases in a global way, pointing out the relative importance of each Colletotrichum species for each host/crop and identifying areas/crops where information is missing (and there are several crops for which nothing is known regarding Colletotrichum species in modern terms). Based on 3400 host species-Colletotrichum species occurrence records (considering only records of Colletotrichum spp. identified in modern terms), we have listed over 760 host (plants) species and analysed the information available on the Colletotrichum species reported from them, the symptoms caused and the geographic distribution and pathological relevance. Whereas some of these hosts are wild plants, this work is mostly focused on cultivated plants and therefore on the aetiology of anthracnose diseases globally. In the context of Colletotrichum fungi, this compilation provides downstream users of Mycology, namely those in areas such as Plant Pathology, Plant Protection and Plant Breeding, with updated information on the main causal agents of anthracnose in each crop/plant species in each location, or alternatively with an alert on the lack of information on the identity of the species of Colletotrichum relevant for a given crop in a given location.

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