Cercospora hayi

Cercospora hayi is a species of fungus in the family Mycosphaerellaceae. It is a plant pathogen that affects various species of plants, particularly those in the Fabaceae family.

Taxonomy

The species was first described in 1923 by American mycologist Charles Drechsler. The genus Cercospora is one of the largest genera of hyphomycetes, with over 3,000 species described. The name Cercospora comes from the Greek words kirkos, meaning "a ring", and spora, meaning "seed", referring to the characteristic ring-like appearance of the spores.

Description

Cercospora hayi is characterized by its conidiophores, which are simple or branched, and its conidia, which are multi-septate and hyaline. The fungus produces a toxin called cercosporin, which is a light-activated compound that causes leaf spots on infected plants.

Pathology

Cercospora hayi is a pathogen of several plant species, particularly those in the Fabaceae family. It causes a disease known as Cercospora leaf spot, which is characterized by the appearance of brown or purple spots on the leaves of infected plants. The disease can lead to significant yield loss in affected crops.

Management

Management of Cercospora hayi involves a combination of cultural practices and chemical control. Cultural practices include crop rotation and the use of resistant varieties. Chemical control involves the use of fungicides, although the fungus has shown resistance to some commonly used fungicides.

See also

• List of Cercospora species
• Plant pathology