Insights into the Diversity and Pathogenicity of Colletotrichum Species Associated with Coffee Anthracnose in China| Chapter 1 | Advances in Colletotrichum Species Causing Coffee Anthracnose in China

 

Coffee is a significant traded commodity for developing countries. Among the various diseases affecting coffee, anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum spp. has re-emerged as a major constraint on global coffee production. In this study, 74 Colletotrichum isolates were obtained from coffee plants exhibiting anthracnose symptoms across nine plantations in China. Phenotypic characterisation was first performed for preliminary identification. The MAT1-2 (ApMat) gene was used to identify 55 isolates as belonging to the C. gloeosporioides species complex. The remaining 19 isolates were identified using a multi-locus phylogenetic analysis based on the ITS, act, chs-1, gapdh, and gs loci. These isolates were classified into seven species from five species complexes: C. gloeosporioides (including C. siamense, C. nupharicola, and C. theobromicola), C. boninense (C. karstii), C. gigasporum (C. gigasporum), C. orchidearum (C. cliviicola), and C. magnum (C. brevisporum). This study presents the first global report of C. nupharicola and C. cliviicola as causal agents of coffee anthracnose, and it is also the first record of C. nupharicola in China. Pathogenicity tests confirmed that all seven species can infect coffee leaves and cause anthracnose symptoms. The identification of multiple Colletotrichum species, including newly reported pathogens, underscores the complexity of coffee anthracnose management, highlighting the practical importance of tailored disease control strategies. Understanding the genetic diversity and pathogenicity of these species can aid in developing targeted management approaches, such as resistant coffee varieties or specific fungicides. The discovery of C. nupharicola and C. cliviicola as pathogens in coffee globally suggests that these species may have a broader host range and wider geographic distribution than previously recognised. This research significantly advances our understanding of the Colletotrichum species complex associated with coffee anthracnose and provides a foundation for developing more effective management strategies, which is crucial for protecting coffee production in developing countries where the crop is a key economic resource.

 

Author(s) Details

Ying Lu
Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China.

 

Xiaoli Hu
College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.

 

Yanqiong Liang
Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China.

 

Xing Huang
Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China.

 

Please see the link:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/mono/978-93-47485-84-8/CH1