ABSTRACT Grape ripe rot (GRR), caused by species of the Colletotrichum genus, is an emerging threat to viticulture in Brazil. Significant outbreaks have been reported in the southern and northeastern grape production regions, yet little is known about the Colletotrichum species involved. To address this gap, we collected 182 isolates from symptomatic fruit and asymptomatic leaves, flowers and fruit of two Vitis species in six states of Brazil. Colletotrichum species were identified using ITS, GAPDH , TUB2 , CHS‐1 and ACT gene sequences and tested for pathogenicity on injured and uninjured berries of Vitis vinifera ‘Thompson’ and V. labrusca × V. vinifera ‘Niagara Rosada’. Most isolates (82%) were from Paraná State. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed first reports of C . melonis , C . cf. melonis , C . chrysophilum , C . hebeiense , C . gloeosporioides , C . jiangxiense and C . boninense on grapevines. Other species previously reported to cause GRR in Brazil were found, including C . nymphaeae , C. siamense , C . viniferum , C. theobromicola , C. fructicola and C . karstii . All species caused disease on injured berries. C . nymphaeae , C. siamense , C . chrysophilum and C . viniferum were isolated from both symptomatic and asymptomatic grapevine tissues, with C . nymphaeae being the most prevalent and C . viniferum mainly associated with berry lesions. Seven species were exclusively detected in asymptomatic tissues, suggesting a potential endophytic lifestyle. We hypothesise that asymptomatic grapevine leaves may serve as inoculum for all Colletotrichum species identified in this study. These findings highlight the diversity of Colletotrichum in Brazilian vineyards and the need to clarify their role in GRR.

ABSTRACT Increasingly frequent drought events can favour forest disease emergence. Sooty bark disease (SBD) of Acer pseudoplatanus (sycamore maple) is a good example of this phenomenon. Records of its causal agent, Cryptostroma corticale , invasive in Europe, have increased since the 2000s in central and southern Europe. The pathogen is found asymptomatically in host tissues and switches to a pathogenic lifestyle following abiotic stress. This latent phase hinders the pathogen's early detection. In this study, we assessed the prevalence of C. corticale in asymptomatic trees in France. Our study covered six regions, each including a city and its nearby peri‐urban and forested ecosystems, representing a human gradient of influence. We assessed the pathogen's presence in 540 wood samples from asymptomatic maple trees by using real‐time PCR. The prevalence was 13.6%, across all plots. The pathogen appears to be widespread in the natural sycamore maple stands of France, increasing the risk of disease development following future drought events. Host density and 3‐year accumulated water deficit best explained detection of C. corticale in asymptomatic sycamore maples. However, the detection of the fungus was not related to the level of human influence, as no significant differences were observed along the urban‐to‐forest gradient. Furthermore, C. corticale was detected in asymptomatic hosts even in regions with limited reports of SBD, indicating that the local reporting frequency of the disease does not reflect the latent presence of the pathogen.