Chilli Cercospora leaf spot

The leaf spot disease is seen both in nursery and main field. The disease causes loss due to defoliation and reduction in photosynthesis.

Cercospora leaf spot

   Symptoms:

1. The disease first manifests as small brownish spots on the leaves and graduallydevelops into the big circular grayish spots with whitish center.
2. Later they form into large lesions due to coalescing of the spots.
3. Infection on fruit stalk and calyx is also very common in severe cases.    

Inisitially Brownish spots with yellow margin	Brownish spots with whitish center
Coalescing of spots	Necrosis of leaves

Causal organism: Cercospora capsici

• Family : Dematiaceae
• Order:  Moniliales
• Class:  Hyphomycetes
• Sub.Division: Deuteromycotina

Disease cycle:

• Primary source of inoculum:   Dormant mycelium in infected plant debris, infected seeds and volunteer plants.
• Secondary source of inoculum:  Air born spores

• Epidemiology:

• Mean temperature 22.5-23.5^oC, relative humidity of 77-85 per cent, more sunshine hours (>5 hr per day) and more
• number of rainy days favor the disease.
• Intermittent rains were found to be favorable for disease development.