ABSTRACT Colletotrichum is one of the most significant and common plant pathogens, infecting many economically important crops worldwide. Colletotrichum is also one of the most studied fungal genera in Malaysia because it contains many species that infect various types of agricultural crop including fruit, vegetable and industrial crops. Studies on Colletotrichum spp. are mostly focused on the causal pathogens, the host range and disease management. Among the host crops, most studies on Colletotrichum spp. have been conducted on infection in chilli (Capsicum spp.), which, in Malaysia, first arose in the 1980s and still continues to be a problem to this day. Studies have also been conducted on Colletotrichum spp. associated with anthracnose in fruit crops including dragon fruit, papaya, banana and mango. Disease management of anthracnose pathogens postharvest has also been conducted to prolong the shelf life of these fruit crops. In this review, Colletotrichum spp. associated with chilli and several fruit crops as well as their disease management are highlighted. There have been many changes in Colletotrichum taxonomy and systematics in recent years, affecting the identification of anthracnose pathogens reported in Malaysia. Colletotrichum species identified solely by morphology or solely via the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region should be referred to as sensu lato (in the broad sense) since many species belong to species complexes. Species within a species complex are closely related, and most are cryptic species particularly species in the C. gloeosporioides and C. acutatum complexes which are commonly associated with agricultural crops in Malaysia. Due to the importance of Colletotrichum spp. as plant pathogens, up-to-date identification methods should be used since accurate species identification of Colletotrichum is crucial for formulating suitable disease management programmes as well as for plant quarantine and biosecurity purposes. This review provides the current knowledge on the status of Colletotrichum spp. associated with agricultural crops in Malaysia and potential control methods on different types of agricultural crops.
Colletotrichum--pathogenicity

In order to find new source of antifungal agents, eleven cultivable endophytic fungi were isolated from the roots,stems and leaves of Chelidonium majus by traditional method. Seven of them were identified as Colletotrichum(L1, L2, L3, S1, S3, S4, S5), and three of them were identified as Fusarium(R1,R2,R3) by morphological features and molecular biological technology. The antifungal activity test showed that all the tested fungi displayed some inhibitory activity against five common plant pathogens(C. gloeosporioides, Curvularia lunata, Pyricularia oryza, Alternaria alternate and A. brassicae), and their inhibition rate of some test items were over 60%. Among them, R1, S2, S3 and S4 were more potent than others. This study enriches the understanding of endophytes from Ch. majus and provides a basis for the study of new microbial fungicides.
Alternaria ; pathogenicity ; Antibiosis ; Ascomycota ; pathogenicity ; Chelidonium ; microbiology ; Colletotrichum ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Endophytes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Fusarium ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Anthracnose disease is one of the major economic constraints to chilli production worldwide, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Accurate taxonomic information is necessary for effective disease control management. In the Colletotrichum patho-system, different Colletotrichum species can be associated with anthracnose of the same host. Little information is known concerning the interactions of the species associated with the chilli anthracnose although several Colletotrichum species have been reported as causal agents of chilli anthracnose disease worldwide. The ambiguous taxonomic status of Colletotrichum species has resulted in inaccurate identification which may cause practical problems in plant breeding and disease management. Although the management and control of anthracnose disease are still being extensively researched, commercial cultivars of Capsicum annuum that are resistant to the pathogens that cause chilli anthracnose have not yet been developed. This paper reviews the causal agents of chilli anthracnose, the disease cycle, conventional methods in identification of the pathogen and molecular approaches that have been used for the identification of Colletotrichum species. Pathogenetic variation and population structure of the causal agents of chilli anthracnose along with the current taxonomic status of Colletotrichum species are discussed. Future developments leading to the disease management strategies are suggested.
Capsicum ; microbiology ; Colletotrichum ; classification ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Fungicides, Industrial ; Pest Control, Biological ; Plant Diseases ; microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Virulence