Identification of Species Associated with Anthracnose Disease of Strawberry in Sichuan Province, China.

Strawberry anthracnose, caused by species, is a major fungal disease threatening the strawberry industry in Sichuan Province of southwestern China. However, research on identification of species associated with strawberry anthracnose in Sichuan remains scarce. In this study, 73 representative strains were isolated from diseased leaves, stolons, petioles, and crowns of 11 major strawberry-planting localities in Sichuan Province. Based on morphological characteristics and multiloci phylogenetic analysis, the strains were identified as three distinct species: (53 strains, 72.60%), (17 strains, 23.29%), and (3 strains, 4.11%). Among them, was the most ubiquitous and dominant species, whereas was restricted to Chongzhou. Importantly, our pathogenicity tests showed that and can infect both leaves and stolons, whereas was only pathogenic to leaves. Interestingly, although the sexual stage of was not observed in this study, it still exhibited the strongest virulence to strawberry compared with and . This is the first study to characterize species causing strawberry anthracnose and evaluate their pathogenicity in Sichuan Province of southwestern China, which will provide a better strategy for accurate diagnosis and management of anthracnose disease in strawberry.