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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #59014
Title: REACTIONS OF SOLANACEOUS SPECIES TO PSEUDOCERCOSPORA FULIGENA, THE CASUAL AGENT OF TOMATO BLACK LEAF MOLD

Author
item WANG, TIEN - AVRDC
item Hartman, Glen
item HSIEH, WEN-HSUI - NATL CHUNGSHIN UNIVERSITY
item BLACK, LOWEL - AVRDC

Submitted to: Plant Disease
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/14/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The disease black leaf mold of tomato is a fungus that attacks the leaves of tomato plants. This disease is caused by a fungus named Pseudocercospora fuligena, and has been reported to occur in Florida and in Asia. This disease has been reported on tomato for several decades, but until now, it has never before been reported on eggplant, pepper and other plants species related to tomato. Other than one report on screening species related to tomato for resistance to this pathogen, there have been no extensive studies to determine the hosts for this fungus. In this report, 106 out of 137 accessions representing 26 species and 5 genera of solanaceous plants developed disease symptoms. The importance of this study is that it may serve as the basis for further work on host plant resistance as a component of an intergrated system for management of black leaf mold of eggplant, pepper, and tomato.

Technical Abstract: A total of 137 accessions representing 26 species and five genera of solanaceous plants were inoculated with Pseudocercospora fuligena, the causal agent of tomato black leaf mold, under controlled conditions (growth room) and in the field. Twenty of 26 species developed symptoms after inoculation under controlled conditions. Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) developed symptoms when inoculated under controlled conditions, but not in the field. Ground cherry, (Physalis sp.), five Irish potato (Solanum tuberosum) cultivars, and eight tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) lines remained symptomless following inoculation under both controlled conditions and in the field. Of 40 pepper accessions, representing four species of Capsicum tested under controlled conditions, 32 developed lesions while eight were symptomless. Of 33 eggplant (Solanum melongena) accessions and related species representing seven Solanum spp. tested under controlled conditions, 24 developed symptoms while nine were symptomless. Two commercial eggplant cultivars, Pingtung Long and Farmers Long, were highly susceptibile under controlled conditions and in the field. Among 46 Lycopersicon accessions representing 10 species that were evaluated, accessions of L. esculentum were the most susceptible and accessions of L. hirsutum were the most resistant. Five Lycopersicon spp., three Solanum spp., and four Capsicum spp. are reported as new hosts of P. fuligena.