Diverse species of Colletotrichum associated with grapevine anthracnose in China

Grapevine anthracnose is an important disease, responsible for mild to severe yield losses in grape production, and is also an important post harvest disease. The disease was studied in vineyards in six provinces in China, with 34 isolates obtained from diseased grapes. Multi-gene (ACT, ITS, GAPDH, TUB2 and CHS) analysis coupled with morphology showed that Colletotrichum aenigma, C. hebeiense sp. nov. and C. viniferum were associated with grapevine anthracnose in China. Colletotrichum aenigma is reported for the first time as associated with grapevine anthracnose. Colletotrichum hebeiense is a new species introduced here. Pathogenicity testing showed that all species can infect grapes, causing anthracnose however, virulence of species and isolates showed great variation. Phylogenetic analysis showed that C. viniferum is a cryptic species and its taxonomy needs to be resolved in the future.