Cercospora fuligena

Cercospora fuligena is a species of fungus in the family Mycosphaerellaceae. It is a plant pathogen that causes leaf spot diseases in a variety of crops, including tomato and eggplant.

Taxonomy

The genus Cercospora is a large and complex group of fungi, with over 5,000 species described. Cercospora fuligena is one of these species. The genus name Cercospora comes from the Greek words kirkos, meaning "a ring", and spora, meaning "seed", referring to the ring-like appearance of the spores under a microscope.

Description

Cercospora fuligena is a hyphomycete fungus, meaning it reproduces asexually by producing conidia (spores). The conidia are typically dark brown and have a multi-cellular structure. The fungus is known for its ability to produce a toxin called cercosporin, which is responsible for the leaf spot symptoms seen in infected plants.

Pathogenicity

Cercospora fuligena is a necrotrophic pathogen, meaning it kills plant tissue and then feeds on the dead material. It causes leaf spot diseases in a variety of crops, including tomato and eggplant. The disease symptoms typically start as small, dark spots on the leaves, which can coalesce into larger lesions as the disease progresses. In severe cases, the disease can lead to significant yield losses.

Management

Management of Cercospora fuligena typically involves a combination of cultural practices and chemical control. Cultural practices include crop rotation and the use of resistant varieties. Chemical control typically involves the use of fungicides, although the fungus has been known to develop resistance to certain fungicides.

See also

• Cercospora apii
• Cercospora beticola
• Cercospora zeae-maydis