Colletotrichum is a genus of major plant pathogens causing anthracnose diseases in many plant crops worldwide. The genus comprises a highly diverse group of pathogens that infect a wide range of plant hosts. The life styles of Colletotrichum species can be broadly categorised as necrotrophic, hemibiotrophic, latent or quiescent and endophytic; of which hemibiotrophic is the most common. The differences in life style depend on the Colletotrichum species, the host species, the physiological maturity of the host and environmental conditions. Thus, the genus Colletotrichum provides a unique opportunity for analysing different life style patterns and features underlying a diverse range of plant–pathogen interactions. This review describes the various modes of life styles of Colletotrichum species, the underlying mechanisms of infection and colonisation, and implications the life styles have for plant biosecurity. Knowledge of life styles of Colletotrichum species will enable the development of improved diagnostics and application of integrated disease control methods to mitigate the risk of incursion of exotic Colletotrichum species.

炭疽菌是引起全球许多植物农作物炭疽病的主要植物病原体的属。该属包括感染多种植物宿主的高度多样化的病原体。炭疽菌的生活方式可大致分为坏死性，半生营养性，潜伏性或静止和内生。其中半营养丰富的是最常见的。生活方式的差异取决于炭疽菌物种，寄主物种，寄主的生理成熟度和环境条件。因此，炭疽菌属提供了独特的机会来分析各种生活方式与植物-病原体相互作用的基础下的不同生活方式和特征。这篇综述描述了炭疽菌物种的各种生活方式，感染和定殖的潜在机制，以及这些生活方式对植物生物安全性的影响。炭疽菌物种生活方式的知识将有助于开发改进的诊断方法，并采用综合疾病控制方法来减轻外来炭疽菌入侵的风险。