Back to Contents

FREE FULL TEXT PDF

LEAF SPOT OF BETEVINE IN PAKISTAN

SALEEM SHAHZAD AND AMER-ZAREEN

Abstract: During a three year survey (1996-99) of betelvine fields in Karachi and Thatta districts of Sindh and area of Balochistan, 23 species belonging to 12 genera of fungi were isolated from leaves of betelvine. Of these, 13 fungi appear to be new records on betelvine leaf in Pakistan.
Artificial inoculation of betelvine leaves or leaf discs with Alternaria alternata, Bipolaris australiensis, B. hawaiiensis, B. papendorfii, Botryodiplodia theobromae Curvularia lunata, C. pallescens, C. tuberculata, Exserohilum rostratum, Fusarium semitectum, F. solani, and F. sporotrichoides produced necrotic spots. Bipolaris australiensis, B. hawaiiensis, B. papendorfii, Botryodiplodia theobromae, Curvularia pallescens, berculata, F. spurotrichoides, and Fusarium solani appeared to be new leaf spot pathogens of betelvine itherto reported. Use of Benomyl or Topsin-M showed significant reduction in leaf spot disease.

Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.