Stemphylium botryosum

Stemphylium botryosum is a species of fungus in the family Pleosporaceae. It is a plant pathogen that causes leaf spot diseases in a variety of crops and ornamental plants.

Taxonomy

The genus Stemphylium was first described by the German mycologist Gustav Wilhelm Körber in 1857. The species Stemphylium botryosum was later identified as a distinct species within this genus.

Description

Stemphylium botryosum is a hyphomyceteous fungus, characterized by its dark, septate hyphae and conidia that are borne singly or in short chains. The conidia are brown, oblong to ellipsoidal, and have a distinctive multi-cellular appearance.

Pathogenicity

Stemphylium botryosum is a plant pathogen that causes leaf spot diseases in a variety of plants. The fungus infects the leaves, causing small, dark spots to appear. As the disease progresses, these spots can coalesce, leading to significant leaf damage and potentially defoliation.

The fungus is known to infect a wide range of host plants, including important crops such as onion, garlic, asparagus, and pear, as well as ornamental plants such as lilac and chrysanthemum.

Management

Management of Stemphylium botryosum involves a combination of cultural practices and chemical control. Cultural practices include crop rotation, removal of infected plant debris, and use of resistant varieties. Chemical control typically involves the use of fungicides.

See also

• List of Stemphylium species
• Plant pathology