First Report of Colletotrichum graminicola Causing Maize Anthracnose in Austria

In October 2024, maize (Zea mays) plants showing black, irregular stem lesions were observed in a field in Lipsch, southern Austria, with approximately 1% incidence and 10–80% severity. Fungi isolated from symptomatic tissues produced dark gray aerial mycelium with orange spore masses on PDA. Conidia were falcate and slightly curved (29.85 ± 2.62 × 6.13 ± 0.66 μm), consistent with Colletotrichum graminicola. The ITS and Sod2 gene sequences of isolates AU-8423-4 and AU-8423-15 (GenBank accession nos. PV200080–PV200083) showed 100% identity with reference C. graminicola strain M1.001. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed their placement within the C. graminicola clade. Pathogenicity tests on maize cv. Mo940 reproduced characteristic anthracnose symptoms, and the pathogen was reisolated, fulfilling Koch’s postulates. This is the first report of C. graminicola causing maize anthracnose in Austria. Its recent detection across multiple European countries underscores the pathogen’s rapid spread and potential economic significance.