Lasiodiplodia theobromae, a Pathogen of Plants and Humans, Spreading to New Crop Hosts Globally

In recent years, global temperatures have steadily increased, leading to new patterns of plant disease occurrence. Plant diseases caused by Lasiodiplodia theobromae (Pat.) Griff. & Maubl., a member of the Botryosphaeriaceae family of fungi, have gradually expanded in terms of both range and host plants, intensifying the threat to agriculture and forestry. Due to insufficient understanding and a lack of control measures for these plant diseases, they pose significant risks to agricultural and forest production as well as global ecosystems. This review covers the biological features of L. theobromae and both the major and newly emerging plant diseases caused by the pathogen, as well as the human diseases it can cause. It also discusses detection methods for plant diseases and the pathogen, the mechanisms of pathogen pathogenicity and plant host defense, and disease management strategies. Finally, the review discusses pathogenesis in plant hosts, plant host resistance, sustainable disease control methods, and future risks associated with the diseases in agriculture, forestry, and human populations.