**6. Colletotrichum: current status and future directions**

### **6.1 Colletotrichum: current status**

*Colletotrichum* species are important cosmopolitan pathogens of many plant species. Globally, *Colletotrichum* can cause anthracnose disease on various types of suitable host plants at the pre- and post-harvest stages resulting in economic losses in crop production.

In the absence of the host plant, the inocula of *Colletotrichum* species can survive unfavourable conditions on plant debris, alternate and collateral hosts, and volunteer

#### *Anthracnose Disease of Mango: Epidemiology, Impact and Management Options DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.105934*

crops on harvested crop fields. There has been continuous first reports of anthracnose disease caused by *Colletotrichum* species on various plants across the world [50–53]. This indicates that the inocula of *Colletotrichum* species are persistent in the environment and expanding their plant host range; hence, remain a major threat to crop cultivation.

Cross infection of anthracnose disease caused by *Colletotrichum* species from one species of plant or its product to another has been reported [54, 55]. A great diversity of *Colletotrichum* species can cause anthracnose disease on a particular host plant and also cross infect another suitable host. *Colletotrichum* species such as *C. asianum, C. cliviicola, C. cordylinicola, C. endophytica, C. fructicola, C. gigasporum, C. gloeosporioides, C. karstii, C. liaoningense, C. musae, C. scovillei, C. siamense* and *C. tropicale* were found to cause mango anthracnose disease and also cross infect other crops [56].

Methods such as chemical, culture, biological and use of resistant varieties have been employed in the management of anthracnose disease. A major challenge confronting the management of anthracnose disease caused by *Colletotrichum* is how to properly identify closely related species of the pathogen causing the disease, since some of the *Colletotrichum* species have similar morphological characteristics and show similar symptoms on infected plants [56, 57]. To avoid the issue of improper identification, several studies have advocated the use of molecular methods for accurate identification of *Colletotrichum* species [54, 56, 57]. Accurate identification of Colletotrichum species causing a particular plant disease would aid in the proper management of the disease.

#### **6.2 Colletotrichum: future directions**

Anthracnose disease of plants caused by *Colletotrichum* species is real and remain a major threat to crop production now and into the future. Going forward, the general public should be sensitized about plant diseases caused by *Colletotrichum* species. This would make the general public aware of the disease and as such play a key role in managing the disease. For example, people who are conscious of the disease would help minimize the rate at which they aid in spreading the *Colletotrichum* inocula from one anthracnose infected plant or its products to another of the same species or others of different species which may also be suitable host for the pathogen.

Going forward, there is the need to properly identify the particular species of *Colletotrichum* causing a plant disease to allow for the proper management of the disease. Expects in the field of fungi identification should be consulted when identifying *Colletotrichum* species and the identified species confirmed using molecular methods. Anthracnose disease of plants caused by *Colletotrichum* species should be of public concern since it can pose a major threat to food security in the future. More studies should be conducted on the epidemiology, aetiology and sustainable methods of managing diseases caused by *Colletotrichum* species.
