Epidemiology and varietal screening of okra genotypes against sooty leaf spot disease, Cercospora ablemoschi

摘要

Okra (Abelmoschus esculetus L.) is a traditional vegetable crop with considerable area under cultivation in India. During rainy season, sooty leaf spot disease of okra caused by Cercospora ablemoschi Ellis and Everh., is now becoming one of the most important diseases of okra. Three species of Cercospora produce leaf spots in okra, C. malayensis and C. hibisci cause brown irregular spots while C. ablemoschi causes sooty, black, angular spots. The affected leaves may roll, wilt and fall. Fungus survives through conidia present on crop residue in soil and primary infection takes place through rainsplash borne conidia of the pathogen. Symptomatically the disease is characterized by brown to black sooty spot on leaf lamina.