Which fungal pathogen is known for causing anthracnose in avocados?

The fungal pathogen that is primarily known for causing anthracnose in avocados is Colletotrichum gloesporioides. This pathogen is notorious for its ability to infect various plants and is particularly impactful on avocado crops, where it can lead to significant fruit rot and loss of yield.

Colletotrichum gloesporioides thrives in warm, humid conditions, making it well-suited to the environments where avocados are typically grown. The symptoms of anthracnose include dark spots and lesions on fruits and leaves, which can eventually lead to the fruit's premature drop from the tree and undesirable quality in marketable avocados.

Other options, while they may be related to plant diseases, do not specifically cause anthracnose in avocados. For instance, Armillaria mellea is more commonly associated with root rot diseases, while Botryosphaeria spp. contributes to different forms of fruit and branch diseases in various plants. Xanthomonas campestris pv. juglandis is a bacterium that affects walnut trees and would not be relevant to avocado diseases. Therefore, the identification of Colletotrichum gloesporioides as the causal agent of anthracnose specifically in avocados is crucial