Colletotrichum Pathogen Dynamics in Fruit Crops

Species of the fungal genus Colletotrichum are responsible for anthracnose diseases across a wide range of fruit crops, causing significant yield losses both before and after harvest. These pathogens display complex life cycles featuring a latent or quiescent phase in which spores remain asymptomatic in plant tissues before activating under favourable conditions. Infection often begins with spore adhesion to fruit surfaces, followed by penetration, colonisation and lesion development. Diversity within Colletotrichum is structured into species complexes and phylogenetic clades that differ in host range, virulence and environmental sensitivity. Climatic factors such as temperature, humidity and precipitation modulate spore germination and disease progression. Integrated management approaches now combine resistant cultivars, precise disease forecasting models, rapid molecular diagnostics and targeted cultural or chemical controls to mitigate global economic impacts and support sustainable production.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent work has delineated the species responsible for apple bitter rot in a major growing region by combining multilocus phylogenetic analysis with morphological and pathogenicity assays. A novel species was described alongside established pathogens, and each species was shown to differ in enzyme activity profiles and sensitivity to key fungicides. These findings underscore the importance of accurate species identification for tailoring control strategies, as variation in pathogenicity-related traits can influence both the severity of fruit lesions and the efficacy of chemical treatments.

Colletotrichum Pathogen Dynamics in Fruit Crops publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in colletotrichum pathogen dynamics in fruit crops across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Anthracnose: A disease syndrome caused by Colletotrichum species, characterised by dark lesions on fruits, leaves or stems.

Quiescent infection: A latent phase of pathogen development during which the fungus remains inside host tissues without causing visible symptoms.

Species complex: A group of closely related species that are difficult to distinguish morphologically but may differ in host specificity and pathogenicity.

Phylogenetic clade: A group of organisms sharing a common ancestor, identified through DNA sequence analysis to reflect evolutionary relationships.

References

1. Development of a model for Colletotrichum diseases with calibration for phylogenetic clades on different host plants. Frontiers in Plant Science (2023).
2. New Species-Specific Real-Time PCR Assays for Colletotrichum Species Causing Bitter Rot of Apple. Microorganisms (2024).
3. New Insights in the Detection and Management of Anthracnose Diseases in Strawberries. Plants (2023).
4. Identification and characterization of Colletotrichum species causing apple bitter rot in New York and description of C. noveboracense sp. nov.. Scientific Reports (2020).