Two new species of Colletotrichum (Glomerellales, Glomerellaceae) causing anthracnose on Epimedium sagittatum

<i>Epimediumsagittatum</i> (Sieb. et Zucc.) Maxim, a perennial herb belonging to the Berberidaceae family, is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for its beneficial role in enhancing kidney function, strengthening bones and muscles, and dispelling wind-dampness. Clinically, it is commonly used to treat osteoporosis, rheumatism, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. During 2023 to 2024, a disease suspected to be anthracnose was observed to be infecting the bases of <i>Epimedium</i> seedlings in Bibo Town, Kaili City, Guizhou Province. In the fall, the disease incidence reached 90%, with severe infection resulting in total desiccation and foliage death. Tissue isolation and single-conidium methods were used to identify and isolate the pathogens, which were determined to be two anthracnose strains. Multi-locus phylogenetic analysis using ITS, <i>gapdh</i>, <i>act</i>, <i>tub2</i>, <i>chs-1</i>, <i>his3</i>, and <i>cal</i>, and morphological observations of representative isolates indicated that the two isolated fungal strains were new species belonging to the genus <i>Colletotrichum</i>, namely <i>Colletotrichumepimedii</i> and <i>Colletotrichumsagittati</i>. Pathogenicity tests, adhering to Koch's postulates, confirmed that both fungi could infect <i>E.sagittatum</i>; <i>C.epimedii</i> exhibited a higher pathogenicity than <i>C.sagittati</i>. The present study provides valuable information regarding the prevention of <i>E.sagittatum</i> anthracnose.