Moringa oleifera, a new host record of Cercospora apii s. lat. from Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

Introduction Moringa oleifera Lam. belongs to family Moringaceae and is commonly called muringa or sahjan. It was introduced from tropical Asia or Malaysia in prehistoric times and is now pan tropic in cultivation, commonly found in India. The flowers and fruits are fried and used as a vegetable. It also has medicinal value as a blood purifier and for treatment of skin diseases, eye diseases, paralysis, antibiotic, scurvy, flatulence, galactagogue, dog bite, antispasmodic, hysteria, vulnerary, diuretic, rubefacient, counterirritant, neuralgia, earache, inflammation, caries, headache, palsy, rheumatism, gout, edema, dyspepsia and lumbago. Due to its great significance in medicine, the plant has high demand but attack by the foliicolous fungus, Cercospora apii s. lat. causes serious foliar infection resulting in the death of leaves. Upon critical morphological examination and comparison of morphological features with closely related fungi, the collection appears as a new host record of Cercospora apii s. lat..