Identification and Characterization of Colletotrichum species Associated with Olive Anthracnose in Korea

Olive anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum species, is one of the most destructive fungal diseases affecting olive fruit worldwide. With the expansion of olive cultivation into East Asia, including Jeju Island, South Korea, it is necessary to characterize local Colletotrichum populations. This study investigated Colletotrichum species associated with olive anthracnose in Korea and their pathogenicity. Using morphological characterization and multilocus phylogenetic analysis (ITS, GAPDH, CHS-1, ACT, and TUB2), we found that four Colletotrichum species are associated with olive anthracnose in Korea: C. fioriniae, C. nymphaeae, C. fructicola, and C. siamense. Pathogenicity tests confirmed that all four species cause typical anthracnose symptoms on olives, confirming their role as causal agents of olive anthracnose in Korea.