Abstract:
We investigated the phylogenetic diversity of 144 Colletotrichum isolates associated with symptomatic
and asymptomatic tissues of Camellia sinensis and other Camellia spp. from seven provinces in China (Fujian,
Guizhou, Henan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang), and seven isolates obtained from other countries, including
Indonesia, UK, and the USA. Based on multi-locus (ACT, ApMat, CAL, GAPDH, GS, ITS, TUB2) phylogenetic
analyses and phenotypic characters, 11 species were distinguished, including nine well-characterised species
(C. alienum, C. boninense, C. camelliae, C. cliviae, C. fioriniae, C. fructicola, C. gloeosporioides, C. karstii, C. siamense),
and two novel species (C. henanense and C. jiangxiense). Of these, C. camelliae proved to be the most
dominant and probably host specific taxon occurring on Camellia. An epitype is also designated for the latter species
in this study. Colletotrichum jiangxiense is shown to be phylogenetically closely related to the coffee berry
pathogen C. kahawae subsp. kahawae. Pathogenicity tests and the pairwise homoplasy index test suggest that
C. jiangxiense and C. kahawae subsp. kahawae are two independent species. This study represents the first report
of C. alienum and C. cliviae occurring on Camellia sinensis. In addition, our study demonstrated that the combined
use of the loci ApMat and GS in a phylogenetic analysis is able to resolve all currently accepted species in the
C. gloeosporioides species complex.
