Editorial: Current perspectives on Colletotrichum: from molecules to ecosystems

The genus Colletotrichum represents one of the most diverse and economically relevant groups of 9 plant-associated fungi (Dean et al., 2012). With almost 350 species now recognised, and grouped 10 into 20 species complexes spanning saprophytic, endophytic, and pathogenic lifestyles, it occupies a 11 remarkable breadth of ecological niches (Talhinhas and Baroncelli, 2021; Talhinhas and Baroncelli, 12 2023). Among these, the pathogenic members are notorious for causing anthracnose, a disease that 13 damages cereals, vegetables, fruits, and ornamentals worldwide. Some species display astonishingly 14 broad host ranges, while others are highly specialized, infecting only a single plant species (Cannon 15 et al., 2012). At the core of their pathogenic strategy lies a hemibiotrophic lifestyle: an initial 16 biotrophic phase characterized by stealthy colonization, followed by a necrotrophic stage in which 17 fungal growth coincides with extensive host tissue destruction. This complexity makes 18Colletotrichum not only a devastating plant pathogen but also a fascinating model system for 19 studying fungal evolution, adaptation, and plant-pathogen interactions (O'Connell et al., 2012;20 Baroncelli et al., 2024