Brinjal
Cercospora Leaf Spot of Eggplant
Cercospora melongenae
Fungus
In a Nutshell
- Small, round, yellow, slightly sunken spots on upper leaf side.
- Spots enlarge and merge, becoming brown with yellow halo.
- Curling and dropping off leaves.
- Yield reduction.
Can also be found in
Brinjal
Symptoms
The infection can occur at any growth stage and is visible on leaves, petioles and stems. Initial symptoms appear as small, round and slightly sunken spots on the upper side of the older, lower leaves. Over time, the spots grow larger, more irregular and surrounded by a yellow halo. Later on, the leaf spots are visible on both leaf surfaces. The older spots merge and take on different characteristics, depending on their location on the leaf. They range from brown to steal-grey (on upper side) and light brown (lower side). If the infection is heavy, leaves become curly and can drop off. Even though the fungus does not infect the fruits directly, it can lead to reduced fruit growth because of the lower productivity of the plants.
Recommendations
Organic Control
Biological agents can help to control the infection. Bio-fungicides based on the bacteria Bacillus subtilis strain QST 713 can be used as foliar spray applications to compete with Cercospora melongenae. Plant extracts from Azadirachta indica (neem oil) may be helpful to control the infection, too.
Chemical Control
An integrated approach should always be considered to control the disease. If fungicides are needed, products containing chlorothalonil, mancozeb or octanoic acid in combination with copper salt can be used as foliar spray and soil applications.
What caused it?
Cercospora melongenae is a plant-pathogenic fungus. The fungal spores can survive in plant debris and the soil for a minimum of 1 year. They are then carried in different ways onto the lower, older leaves. Most commonly they are spread by wind and water (rain and irrigation), but they can be dispersed by infected tools and persons. It then moves up the stem to the younger foliage. Moisture and high relative humidity are favorable for the infection and development of the disease. It is thus more common during the rainy season (wet weather, continuous plant wetness).
Preventive Measures
- Plant resilient tolerant or resistant varieties.
- Use healthy or certified pathogen-free seed and plant material.
- Maintain increased space between plants to ensure good ventilation and avoid the spread of the disease.
- Avoid excessive weed growth.
- Ensure sufficient fertilization.
- Avoid over-irrigation to reduce humidity and do not use overhead sprinklers.
- Water in the morning rather than in the evening.
- Avoid working when plants are wet.
- Remove or destroy infected plants and your waste by burning or plowing it.
- Crop rotation with non-host crops is recommended for the given period.
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