Anoop K.1* and K.V. Thanzeen2

1*&2Department of Botany, The Zamorin’s Guruvayurappan College, Kozhikode-673014 (India) *email: anoopkuttiyil@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Manilkara zapota (L.) P. Royen, commonly called as 'Cheekoo, Chikku’, ‘Sapota’ or ‘Sapodilla’, belonging to the family Sapotaceae, is one of the fleshy fruits with high export value in India. The sapota tree is susceptible to many fungal diseases. Many fungi like Phaeophleospora indica, Pestalotia sapotae L., and Glomerella cingulata are reported to cause leaf spot disease in M. zapota. In the present study, the leaf spot disease of M. zapota found in Kumaranellur area of Palakkad district of Kerala was subjected to isolation and identification of the causative organism. The disease was characterized by small reddish-brown spots on the upper surface of the leaves. The circular spots gradually enlarge radially producing necrotic lesion at the centre. The margins of the spot showed yellowish or orange color initially. The entire leaf lamina becomes brown and shed off in advanced stages. The lesions were prominent over the upper surface of the leaves. The organism from the diseased sample was isolated and characterized. The pathogenicity of the isolate was proved and identified as Curvularia pallescens Boedijn. This is the first report of incidence of leaf spot disease on M. zapota by Curvularia pallescens Boedijn.

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