Identification and characterization of Colletotrichum species causing kiwifruit anthracnose in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan

In 2017 and 2018, anthracnose appeared on fruits and leaves of kiwifruit in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. Pathogenic fungi isolated from symptomatic tissue were identified as Colletotrichum fioriniae, C. karsti, C. gloeosporioides s.s., C. fructicola, and C. siamense based on morphological and molecular analyses. All species were sensitive to azoxystrobin and thiophanate-methyl, except C. fioriniae, which has natural resistance to thiophanate-methyl. These findings provide crucial epidemiological information and will help establish appropriate disease control measures.