Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds

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Summary

• Worldwide distribution. A minor disease of bele on older leaves, but important on okra.
• Leaf spots, circular to irregular, often limited by the veins, brown with blackish brown margins on the upper leaf surface and pale brown mould below. Sometimes, olive-brown to blackish-brown, indistinct angular leaf blotches occur instead of spots. Severely affected leaves turn yellow, roll, wilt, and fall.
• Spread is by spores blown by wind. Survival is in crop debris.
• Cultural control: avoid planting new crops next to infected; remove older infected leaves, and burn them; when harvesting young leaves (bele) or fruit (okra);collect and destroy debris after final harvest; crop rotation.
• Chemical control: use chlorothalonil, copper or mancozeb.