First report of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides causing severe anthracnose on Parthenocissus tricuspidata in China

Parthenocissus tricuspidata is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant. However, severe anthracnose on their leaves has been observed indicating over 80% infection in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. The purpose of this study was to characterize the disease causal agent. Colletotrichum-like fungal strains were isolated from the diseased spots. On MEA, the fungal colony appeared white with abundant and dense aerial mycelia. The selected isolates were identified as C. gloeosporioides and C. siamensethe using multi-gene (ITS, ACT, CAL, GAPDH and TUB2) sequence phylogenetic analysis combined with morphological characteristicsPathogenicity tests were conducted by inoculating conidial suspensions on healthy P. tricuspidata leaves, followed by re-isolation and characterization to fulfill the Koch's postulates. This represents the first report that C. gloeosporioides causes anthracnose on P. tricuspidata in China. The potential impact of the disease deserves further investigation considering its high occurrence for sustainable management.