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Bele (Abelmoschus) leaf blotch (322) Print Fact Sheet

Common Name

Leaf mould, leaf blotch

Scientific Name

Pseudocercospora abelmoschi; previously Cercospora abelmoschi, Oidium abelmoschi.

Distribution

Worldwide. In tropical and warm temperate countries. Asia, Africa, North, South and Central America, the Caribbean, Oceania. Recorded from American Samoa, Australia, Fiji, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu.

Hosts

Bele (aibika, sliperi kabis, island cabbage), Abelmoschus manihot. Also recorded on okra (Abelmoschus esculentus).

Symptoms & Life Cycle

Leaf spots are circular to irregular, often limited by the veins, brown with a blackish brown margin on the upper leaf surface (Photo 1), and pale brown mould on the underside (Photo 2). Often, spots do not develop, instead there are sooty, olive–brown to blackish-brown indistinct angular leaf blotches (Photo 3). Spores develop predominantly on the lower leaf surface; the patches with spores may join together so that fungal growth covers the whole leaf (Photo 2&4). Severely affected leaves may become chlorotic, rolled, wilted, and fall to the ground.

Spread is by spores blown in the wind. Survival is in crop debris.

Impact

The disease is only of minor importance. It is mostly on older leaves and so it is likely that the impact on bele is minimal as it is the young leaves that are used as a greens. However, on okra the disease may have greater impact. It is said to be serious in Bangladesh where the use of fungicides is said to be needed to bring about control.

Detection & Inspection

Look for the pale brown spots with distinct margins on the older leaves on the upper surface (bele), or dark indistinct patches (okra). Look at the underside of the leaf to see blackish-brown fungal growth, sometimes covering the whole leaf.

Management

CULTURAL CONTROL

Before planting:

During growth:

After harvest:

CHEMICAL CONTROL
 If blemish-free leaves are required, use copper fungicides or mancozeb.


AUTHORS Grahame Jackson & Eric McKenzie 
Information from Pseudocercopsora abelmoschi. Editor Bob Macfarlane. Ecoport: http://ecoport.org/ep?Fungus=23085&entityType=FU****&entityDisplayCategory=full. Photos 1,2&4 (taken by Eric McKenzie), and used in this fact sheet, appeared previously in McKenzie E (2013) Pseudocercospora abelmoschi PaDIL - http://www.padil.gov.au.

Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.



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