Identification and Characterization of Colletotrichum Species Associated with Anthracnose of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum in Zhejiang, China

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum (Sanyeqing) is a valuable perennial medicinal plant in China, renowned for its extensive pharmacological properties and applications in traditional medicine. However, its cultivation is threatened by anthracnose disease. This study identified the causal Colletotrichum species responsible for the disease in Zhejiang province via morphological characterization and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses (ACT, CAL, CHS-1, GAPDH, ITS). The results revealed considerable diversity among these pathogens, with C. fructicola identified as a widely distributed species with relatively high virulence. To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. aenigma, C. siamense, C. plurivorum, C. sojae, and C. truncatum as causal agents of anthracnose on T. hemsleyanum. Pathogenicity of all species was confirmed, which fulfilled Koch's postulates. Collectively, these findings clarify the pathogenic species associated with T. hemsleyanum anthracnose in Zhejiang and provide a theoretical foundation for the development of effective disease control strategies.