First report of &lt;i&gt;Corynespora cassiicola&lt;/i&gt; on &lt;i&gt;Codiaeum variegatum&lt;/i&gt; (croton) in Sri Lanka

Ke Jayasuriya,Bi Thennakoon

doi:10.4038/cjsbs.v36i2.489

First report of <i>Corynespora cassiicola</i> on <i>Codiaeum variegatum</i> (croton) in Sri Lanka

Ke Jayasuriya, Bi Thennakoon

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4038/cjsbs.v36i2.489

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Abstract

Corynespora cassiicola was a devastating pathogen attributed to heavy leaf fall in susceptible clones of rubber (Hevea brasiliensis), in the mid-eighties in Sri Lanka. It is known to have a wide host range. This is the first report of C. cassiicola as a leaf pathogen of croton, Codiaeum veriegatum, an ornamental plant. This report emphasizes the possibility of C. cassiicola infecting new hosts which could eventually lead to the development of new and virulent strains that are pathogenic to existing tolerant rubber clones. Key words: leaf disease, rubber, ornamental plants doi: 10.4038/cjsbs.v36i2.489 Cey. J. Sci. (Bio. Sci.) 36 (2): 138-141, 2007

Highlights

Corynespora cassiicola (Berk. and Curt.) Wei is a devastating fungal pathogen of rubber
Since C. cassiicola has a wide host range (Anon, 2007) it may have the potential to adapt to different ecosystems and sustain by occasionally producing new pathogenic virulent strains that can infect new host plants including new high yielding rubber clones
This paper reports the biology and pathogenicity of the fungus and the possibility of expansion of its host range, which could be a threat to the rubber plantations in Sri Lanka

Summary

Introduction

Corynespora cassiicola (Berk. and Curt.) Wei is a devastating fungal pathogen of rubber It has been reported from Sri Lanka since the mid-eighties, on rubber clone RRIC103 causing leaf disease (Liyanage et al, 1986). The extent of damage caused by the disease was high and subsequently the infected clone was completely removed from plantations. Later it was found that a new virulent strain was responsible for infecting another clone, RRIC110 (Jayasinghe, 1995) which was earlier known to be tolerant to the same pathogen. The mechanism involved in forming new pathogenic strains has not yet been revealed. Since C. cassiicola has a wide host range (Anon, 2007) it may have the potential to adapt to different ecosystems and sustain by occasionally producing new pathogenic virulent strains that can infect new host plants including new high yielding rubber clones

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