Anthracnose of asparagus caused by <i>Colletotrichum spaethianum</i> in Japan

Abstract

In September 2018 in Hokkaido, Japan, large, oval-shaped lesions developed on asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) stems, similar to stem blight caused by Phomopsis asparagi. The associated fungus was identified as Colletotrichum spaethianum based on morphological and cultural characteristics and molecular analyses of ACT, CHS1, GAPDH, H3, ITS and TUB2 nucleotide sequences. Symptoms were reproduced after inoculation of asparagus stems with the isolates, which were reisolated from the inoculated, symptomatic stems. This is the first report of Colletotrichum spaethianum causing anthracnose of asparagus in Japan.