First report of Colletotrichum scovillei causing anthracnose of pepper in Kosovo

Colletotrichum scovillei is one of several species in the C. acutatum complex causing anthracnose on pepper, currently present in eastern Asia, Brazil and South Carolina (USA). A severe anthracnose infection on pepper fruits was identified in two commercial fields in Kosovo. Infection assays, morphological analyses and sequencing identified the causal agent as C. scovillei. It could be considered an emerging disease as the severe crop losses, together with the spread of the pathogen/disease to areas and regions where it was never reported in previous times. This is the first report of C. scovillei infecting pepper in Kosovo and Europe.