Abstract

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A roving survey was conducted in western mandals of Chittoor district for the incidence of black leaf spot of papaya caused by Asperisporium caricae. Formation of black pustules on the abaxial surface of the leaf are characteristic of this disease. The symptoms are scattered small spots, visible on both leaf surfaces. On the upper surface, the lesions are rounded or somewhat angular, 2-5 mm in diameter, pale yellow, with dark margins. Later the lesions become necrotic and whitish. On the lower surface, the lesions are covered with masses of fungal spores which appear as dark dots. The pustules can cover the whole lesion. The disease is more intense on the lower leaves. Sometimes the leaf lesions can cover an extensive area, causing yellowish and premature drop. The pustules also occur on fruit. Conidiophores closely packed together and covering the surface of the stroma, usually unbranched, hyaline to olivaceous brown, with several prominent conidial scars at the apex. Conidia solitary, ellipsoidal, pyriform or clavate, 1-septate, hyaline to mid pale brown, verrucose, 14–26 x 7–10 μm in diam. Among the fungicides tested, combi product Hexaconazole+ Zineb had shown 100% inhibition at 100 ppm under in vitro conditions.

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