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Pacific Pests & Pathogens - Mini Fact Sheet Edition

Cassava brown leaf spot (095)

Photo 1. Small round leaf spots, with distinct yellow halos of cassava brown leaf spot, Cercosporidium henningsii.

Photo 2. Cassava brown leaf spot, Cercosporidium henningsii. Note that the spots are on the older leaves and that they are limited by the veins.

Summary

Worldwide. Only recorded from cassava. A minor disease.
Spots are roundish, brown with dark borders, up to 15 mm, limited by veins, often with a yellow halo. Leaves turn yellow and fall. Mostly, on lower leaves, from 5-6 months after planting. Root losses reported up to 30%, but in the Pacific the effect appears to be small, but not tested.
Spread in wind and rain, and on cuttings.
Cultural control: practice crop rotation; wide spacing; plant so that the crop matures in the drier season; do not plant new crops next to old; tolerant varieties; collect and burn trash after harvest.
Chemical control: not recommended.

Common Name

Cassava brown leaf spot

Scientific Name

Passalora henningsii; previously, Cercosporidium henningsii, Cercospora henningsii. It is also known as Mycospaerella henningsii, after the sexual state.

AUTHORS Helen Tsatsia & Grahame Jackson
Photo 1 McKenzie E (2013) Passalora henningsii 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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