Identification and characterization of Colletotrichum species causing grape ripe rot in southern China

Abstract

Grape ripe rot is known to be causing serious losses in grapes in many countries. In order to clarify the species of pathogen causing grape ripe rot in southern China, 62 samples with ripe rot symptoms were collected from Fujian and Guizhou Provinces. Single spore isolation techniques resulted in 50 isolates of Colletotrichum species. Based on multigene data and morphology, 48 isolates were identified as C. viniferum and one isolate was identified as C. citri. A Colletotrichum species, sister to C. cliviae, was identified to be causing grape ripe rot. However, until further collections are made, this species will be remain as Colletotrichum sp. This is the first time that C. citri and the undetermined Colletotrichum species sister to C. cliviae have been reported to be associated with grape ripe rot in the world.