The genus Colletotrichum comprises more than 300 species of filamentous fungi with highly diverse lifestyles. They can be saprophytes, endophytes or plant pathogens. The plant-pathogenic species cause the disease termed anthracnose, which is defined by the appearance of asexual fruiting bodies in brown lesions on leaves, flowers, fruit, root, or stem tissues. Colletotrichum infection is relevant for the majority of existing land plants, including economical relevant cereals, vegetables and fruits.
Some species have very broad host ranges, including monocot and dicot hosts while others are very specialized for the interaction with one plant species only. These pathogens use a multistage hemibiotrophic infection strategy, in which a short biotrophic stage is followed by the disintegration of the host plant tissue during necrotrophy.
In this Frontiers Research Topic, we aim to gather all aspects of current Colletotrichum research. We welcome the submission of Original Research, Review and Method articles, ranging from the analysis of specific genes, proteins, or secondary metabolites to agricultural approaches, both from the host and pathogen perspective. To obtain a more complete picture, we further encourage the submission of phylogenetic analyses and genomic studies together with applied research.
The genus Colletotrichum comprises more than 300 species of filamentous fungi with highly diverse lifestyles. They can be saprophytes, endophytes or plant pathogens. The plant-pathogenic species cause the disease termed anthracnose, which is defined by the appearance of asexual fruiting bodies in brown lesions on leaves, flowers, fruit, root, or stem tissues. Colletotrichum infection is relevant for the majority of existing land plants, including economical relevant cereals, vegetables and fruits.
Some species have very broad host ranges, including monocot and dicot hosts while others are very specialized for the interaction with one plant species only. These pathogens use a multistage hemibiotrophic infection strategy, in which a short biotrophic stage is followed by the disintegration of the host plant tissue during necrotrophy.
In this Frontiers Research Topic, we aim to gather all aspects of current Colletotrichum research. We welcome the submission of Original Research, Review and Method articles, ranging from the analysis of specific genes, proteins, or secondary metabolites to agricultural approaches, both from the host and pathogen perspective. To obtain a more complete picture, we further encourage the submission of phylogenetic analyses and genomic studies together with applied research.