available online at www.studiesinmycology.org STUDIES IN MYCOLOGY 73: 181–213. Colletotrichum – current status and future directions P.F. Cannon1*, U. Damm2, P.R. Johnston3, and B.S. Weir3 1CABI Europe-UK, Bakeham Lane, Egham, Surrey TW20 9TY, UK and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond TW9 3AB, UK; 2CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands; 3Landcare Research, Private Bag 92170 Auckland, New Zealand *Correspondence: Paul Cannon,
[email protected] Abstract: A review is provided of the current state of understanding of Colletotrichum systematics, focusing on species-level data and the major clades. The taxonomic placement of the genus is discussed, and the evolution of our approach to species concepts and anamorph-teleomorph relationships is described. The application of multilocus technologies to phylogenetic analysis of Colletotrichum is reviewed, and selection of potential genes/loci for barcoding purposes is discussed. Host specificity and its relation to speciation and taxonomy is briefly addressed. A short review is presented of the current status of classification of the species clusters that are currently without comprehensive multilocus analyses, emphasising the orbiculare and destructivum aggregates. The future for Colletotrichum biology will be reliant on consensus classification and robust identification tools. In support of these goals, a Subcommission onColletotrichum has been formed under the auspices of the International Commission on Taxonomy of Fungi, which will administer a carefully curated barcode database for sequence-based identification of species within the BioloMICS web environment. Key words: anamorph-teleomorph linkages, barcoding, Colletotrichum, database, Glomerella, host specialisation, phylogeny, systematics, species concepts. Published online: 15 September 2012; doi:10.3114/sim0014.