Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides - Online edition

Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides

Tomato black leaf mould (045)

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Photo 1. Close up of spots as in Photo 1, showing the spore masses of black leaf mould, Pseudocercospora fuligena, on the underside of the leaves.

Photo 2. Black leaf mould, Pseudocercospora fuligena, on the underside of tomato leaflets, showing the areas where spores are produced.

Photo 3. Dark brown or black mould growth ont he underside of the leaf caused by tomato black leaf mould, Pseudocercospora fuligena.

Summary

  • Worldwide distribution. In tropics. On tomato, capsicum, chilli, and eggplant. An important disease.
  • Dark fungal patches on lower leaves progressing upwards. Leaves turn yellow rapidly and die. Fruits are not infected.
  • Spores on underside of leaves spread in wind-blow rain.
  • Cultural control: avoid planting next to old crops; remove and burn leaves as infections occur; seek advice on tolerant varieties; 3-year crop rotation; collect trash and burn after harvest.
  • Chemical control: copper, chlorothalonil, or mancozeb (protectants). Begin when flowers appear, then at 10-14 day intervals until 3-4 weeks from harvest. Note that mancozeb has a 5-day withholding period.

Common Name

Black leaf mould, leaf spot, tomato leaf mould

Scientific Name

Pseudocercospora fuligena. Previously, known as Cercospora fuligena.

Photo 4. Black spots, yellowing and rapid dying of tomato leaves infected by black leaf mould, Pseudocercospora fuligena.

Photo 5. Rapid death of tomato leaves from the base upwards due to infection by black leaf mould, Pseudocercospora fuligena.

AUTHORS Helen Tsatsia & Grahame Jackson
Information from CABI (2020) Pseudocercospora fuligena (black leaf mould). Invasive Species Compendium. (https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/12222); and (with Photo 5) McKenzie E (2013) Pseudocercospora fuligena. PaDIL - (http://www.padil.gov.au). Photos 1&2 Jaw-Fen Wang, AVRDC, The World Vegetable Center, Taiwan.

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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