Frogeye Leaf Spot Of Tobacco

Etiology
Causal Organism : Cercospora nitotianae
Class : Ascomycete
 This is the most important fungus in tobacco
economically.
 This fungus can reproduce on many common
weeds.
 Like other pathogen of leaf spot of tobacco the
suitable conditions for this fungus is warm and
humid envirnmnt
 Asexual spores(conidia) can land on the surface of
host tissues germinate and form new lesions that
contain the hyphae of this fungus.
 Conidiophore bear conidia spores erupt from plant
tissues via stroma(asexual reproductive structure)
 Conidia spores are produced on each
conidiophores.
 Conidia are long, multi-septate brown pigmented.
  Spores dispersed to susceptible host conidia
germinate

Symptoms
Symptoms are usually found on lower leaves.
These spots spread on all the leaves of plant.
In start lesions are small and spots are sunken
white or sunken tan color.
Spots on mature leaf are round in shape and
its diameter is 1cm.
Middle area of spot is pale white/tan with
dark brown margin.
Yellow halo seen on green leaves which can
extended out from dark margin.
Stroma(dark color fruiting bodies) are created
black area in the center of spot seen which
resemble to pepper flakes.
Fruiting bodies emerge conidia and under
magnification appear as long, thin and hair
 like gradually curve is uniform along its
length.

Epidemology
When warm temperature (25-30C*) combine with
high humidity are suitable condition for
reproduction and growth of Cercospora nicotianae.

Disease Cycle
 Conidia are present in the debris of plant and soil.
 Water and air are the source of dispersion of these
spores to new host.
 Spores germinate and infect leaf tissues.
 Leaf tissues dies when hyphae spread in the tissues
of leaf and form necrotic lesions.
 Within the lesion of leaf the stroma (fruiting body)
are formed that erupt plant tissues to release
spores.

Management
 Cultural practices are very important to reduce
damages of this pathogen.
Destruction of crop residue at the end of growing
season which is helpful to reduced the incidence
and severity of frogeye leaf spot from one to next
season by limiting inoculum build-up.
Crop rotation with non-host plants are helpful to
break the life cycle of disease.
Avoid transplanting of new plants from near more
mature plants which are harbor and spread disease.
Not common in greenhouse.
By the transplanting of infected plant the disease
can transfer into previously unaffected field.
Row spacing reduce severity and incidence of
disease.
No conventional fungicides are available
(Strobilurin) in North Carolina
Cultural practices used are important to reduce the
loss of this disease.

Economic Importance
Historically this disease is main issue for ripe tobacco, in
the last couple of years become more common.This
disease is mostly found on lower or more mature leaves
and effect the green tissues.Severe infection not only
impact on yield of tobacco but in conducive
environmental conditions caused severe damage of
leaves.

Reference
From NC State Publications from google net

Authors
Andrew Ernst (Research Assistant
Entomology and Plant Pathology)

Lindsey Thiessen (Assistant Professor

Entomology and Plant Pathology)