APS 2009 Annual Meeting Abstract of Presentation

New records for the Brazilian Cerrado of leaf pathogens on Jatropha curcas
A. C. Dianese (1), J. C. DIANESE (2)
(1) Embrapa Cerrados, Planaltina, Distrito Federal, Brazil; (2) Univ de Brasilia de Brasilia, Brasilia, BRAZIL
Phytopathology 99:S28

Jatropha curcas is an euphorbiaceous plant that produces seeds with high oil concentration. The species is being extensively studied by Embrapa in several research centers throughout warmer and drier areas of Brazil to explore its potential as raw material for bio-diesel production. In Planaltina, Distrito Federal, leaf spots caused by a cercosporoid hyphomycete was observed and Cercospora jatrophae-curcas was the agent precisely identified. The symptoms consisted of well delimited light brown irregular necrotic spots where fascicles of sympodial cicatrized conidiophores were found in large numbers yielding simple obclavate conidia with an slight tint of pale brown. The dimensions of all structures agreed with those shown in the original species description. Also depressed yellowish leaf areas containing several acervuli were present on the host leaf. Two Colletotrichum species isolated are still being identified and tested. As J. curcas is still a crop under domestication in Brazil, it is important to take note of its associations with pathogenic fungi that may become limiting factors to the future growth of this potential commodity.